Global Change and Air Quality

Abstract

World population growth, industrialization, energy demand, and environmental goals are presently driving rapid global change in emissions with complex consequences for climate, air quality, and ecosystems. As North America strives to reduce its pollutant emissions to meet air quality standards, rising global emissions may increase background pollutant concentrations and offset some of the gains. Climate change can have important impacts on air quality, and in turn, air pollutants are recognized to be major climate forcing agents. Policies to mitigate climate change could have important implications for air quality and vice versa. It is becoming increasingly important to view air quality from a global perspective and to integrate air quality and climate stabilization goals in the design of environmental policy. This chapter presents a review and analysis of these issues with the air quality perspective focused on tropospheric ozone, particulate matter, and mercury.