Air pollution remains a leading cause of premature death globally, with nearly 8 million deaths annually. Particulate matter from coal plants, vehicles, and industrial activity drives a significant portion of these fatalities, particularly in low and middle income countries where indoor cooking with solid fuels also poses a severe risk. Beyond pollution, rising global temperatures are increasing the frequency of compound hot-dry extremes. These simultaneous heatwaves and droughts create impacts more severe than either event alone, threatening food security and human health for billions of people if warming continues on its current trajectory.
