The World Meteorological Organization's fifth annual Air Quality and Climate Bulletin, issued in September, called attention to the effects of air pollution on climate change and human and ecosystem health.
Aerosols were a primary topic of concern. Also called particulate matter, aerosols are tiny particles that come from both human and natural sources, including fossil fuels and industrial emissions, as well as volcanic eruptions, pollen, and dust. They can be harmful to human health, causing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and pollute soil and water.
However, their effects on climate change are more complicated. Some aerosols intensify warming, while others reflect sunlight and mask warming.
Jessica Seddon, a senior lecturer at the Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs, chaired the Bulletin's editorial board and coauthored an article in the bulletin. She is an expert on environmental governance and institutional design for integrating science and policymaking.
Seddon, who also directs the Jackson School's Deitz Family Initiative on Environment and Global Affairs, recently spoke to Yale News about the new report and the science and policy of aerosols more generally. The interview has been edited and condensed.
