A new study published this month in Nature Communications, Earth and Environment concludes that recent reductions in aerosol pollution across East Asia — particularly in China — have probably contributed to an acceleration in global surface warming since about 2010. The research links a regional fall in aerosol emissions to rising temperatures across the Asian landmass and finds global surface warming has accelerated since 2010 compared with the preceding fifty years.
The authors report a 75 per cent decrease in sulfate aerosol emissions in East Asia over the period. Lead author Bjørn H. Samset, senior researcher at the CICERO Centre for International Climate Research, said this "has likely driven much of the recent global warming acceleration, and also warming trends in the Pacific." Atmospheric scientists add that reducing aerosols lets more solar radiation reach the Earth's surface. Jayanarayanan Kuttippurath of the Indian Institute of Technology warned that cloud–aerosol interaction is important but difficult to simulate accurately for study purposes.
The paper's authors caution that the warming acceleration linked to cleaner air is likely to be short-lived, yet regional effects are already evident. Roxy Mathew Koll of the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology said that since about 2000 Asian temperatures have risen sharply and the acceleration is intensifying heatwaves, disrupting monsoons, fueling cyclones, raising sea levels and melting glaciers. The WMO State of the Climate in Asia 2024 report, published in June, noted Asia is warming twice as fast as the global average, that land areas warm faster than seas, and that surface temperatures in the Indian and Pacific Oceans reached record levels in 2024.
Experts and agencies say urgent action on greenhouse gas emissions and increased financial support for adaptation are needed. An IMF paper estimates emerging and developing Asia requires at least US$1.1 trillion a year for mitigation and adaptation, with an annual shortfall of US$800 billion. At COP29, wealthy countries pledged to help raise US$300 billion a year by 2035, a sum many climate-vulnerable countries consider inadequate.
Difficult words
- aerosol — tiny particles suspended in the atmosphere
- sulfate — a type of aerosol containing sulfur compounds
- emission — release of gas or particles into the airemissions
- acceleration — increase in speed or rate of change
- adaptation — measures to adjust to harmful climate effects
- mitigation — actions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- monsoon — a seasonal wind that brings heavy summer rainmonsoons
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How might a short-term warming acceleration from cleaner air affect planning for climate adaptation in Asian countries? Give reasons.
- The article says wealthy countries pledged US$300 billion a year by 2035. What problems could arise if this amount remains lower than the estimated need?
- What local and global consequences could result from Asia warming twice as fast as the global average? Give examples from the article or real life.
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