Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore has launched a pioneering initiative that uses artificial intelligence and satellite technology to track deadly air pollution worldwide from over 660 million sources.
This project by Climate Trace, the coalition Gore co-founded, focuses on fine particulate matter (PM2.5), responsible for nearly 10 million premature deaths annually.
The new tool integrates data from 300 satellites and 30,000 ground sensors, enabling unprecedented real-time mapping of pollution sources and plumes at the neighbourhood level in over 2,500 cities. It highlights around 137,000 emission sources, including nearly 4,000 major “super emitters,” providing public access to clear visualisations of how PM2.5 spreads across urban areas.
“The very idea of tracking 662 million sites around the world was unimaginable without artificial intelligence,” Gore stated.
His experience supporting communities in Memphis, Tennessee, affected by refinery pollution inspired the project’s aim to empower citizens and policymakers with transparent data to hold polluters accountable.
Beyond its direct health harms—ranging from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases to dementia and diabetes—PM2.5 pollution at legal limits still causes tens of thousands of excess deaths yearly in countries like the U.S. Climate Trace’s data also exposes pollution hotspots like “Cancer Alley” in Louisiana, whose emissions per capita surpass those of many nations.
By combining real-time emissions tracking with advanced analytics, Climate Trace equips the world with powerful tools to accelerate the shift from fossil fuels and tackle both pollution and climate change.
Gore concluded, “Knowing the truth will set you free,” reflecting the project’s potential to transform public understanding and action on air quality.