Former Vice President Al Gore has unveiled a global expansion of his satellite-based pollution tracking system to monitor deadly soot emissions down to the neighborhood level. The initiative, part of his Climate TRACE coalition, now includes real-time tracking of particulate pollution in 2,500 cities worldwide—marking a dramatic leap in environmental surveillance capabilities.
The upgraded system uses over 300 satellites, 30,000 ground sensors, and advanced artificial intelligence to detect and trace the origins of tiny airborne particles, commonly known as soot. These pollutants are linked to nearly 9 million deaths globally each year, including tens of thousands in the United States, according to health studies. While not classified as a greenhouse gas, soot comes from the same fossil fuel combustion processes that produce carbon emissions.
Climate TRACE’s new tools not only map the movement of particulate pollution but also identify the exact source—naming the companies and facilities responsible. According to Gore, the AI integration makes it easier than ever for citizens to pinpoint who is polluting their neighborhoods, giving them data once only available to large environmental agencies.
“It’s difficult, before AI, for people to really see precisely where this conventional air pollution is coming from,” Gore said during a press interview. “When it’s over in their homes and in their neighborhoods… they’re empowered with the truth of their situation.”
Currently focused on long-term exposure patterns, the system is expected to provide near-daily updates within a year. Gore envisions this data eventually being integrated into everyday tools like weather and allergy apps, dramatically expanding public awareness and pressure on polluters.
Among the 137,095 pollution sources identified by Climate TRACE, 3,937 are labeled as “super emitters.” These facilities release soot at levels considered highly hazardous. Gore singled out “Cancer Alley,” a 65-mile stretch of petrochemical plants between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, as one of the worst hotspots. He claimed that if this region were its own country, its per capita greenhouse gas emissions would rank fourth globally.
Gore’s coalition also released global rankings showing which cities face the highest exposure to soot. Karachi, Pakistan tops the list, followed by Guangzhou (China), Seoul (South Korea), New York City (USA), and Dhaka (Bangladesh).
Critics of Gore’s environmental agenda have long expressed concerns over how such tracking could be used to enforce sweeping regulatory mandates, raise energy costs, or drive politically motivated targeting of industries. Still, the expansion of real-time monitoring signals the growing use of AI and satellite technology in shaping environmental policy and global climate strategies.
