Media Coverage

Media coverage of published research and expert commentary on current affairs related to air quality, health, and emerging pollutants.

Environmental impact of rocket launches and space debris:

Print News Interviews:
The Big Issue, The UK tried to launch its first orbital space rocket – but how much did this historic moment pollute the atmosphere?
Japan Times, A made-in-Japan solution for space junk that goes against the grain

Podcast and Radio Interviews:
BBC4 Inside Science, Rocket Launch Pollution
BBC4 Inside Science, How green is space travel?
NPR Science Friday, The Private Space Race Takes a Toll on Planet Earth

Environmental impact of a nascent space tourism industry:

Media interviews and coverage resulting from the article by Eloise Marais written in The Conversation in July 2021 on Space tourism: rockets emit 100 times more CO2 per passenger than flights – imagine a whole industry.

Print News Interviews:
The Guardian, Billionaire space cowboys could become heroes by focusing on the climate crisis.
The Wall Street Journal, As rocket launches take off, so do concerns about emissions.
France24, Rise in space tourism, rocket launches pose new threat to ozone layer, researchers warn.
CNBC, How Blue Origin, SpaceX, Virgin Galactic space race could impact the atmosphere.
BBC World Service, Space Tourism: Will vacation flights over Earth benefit science, or will environmental damage be the main result? [French]. Space tourism: is it helpful for scientific research or will it cause environmental disaster? [Chinese]
Mashable, Space tourism sounds fun. But it could be terrible for the planet.
Der Spiegel, Star filth. [German. Requires subscription]
Die Zeit, The dirty war to Mars. [German]
Dagens Nyheter (News of the Day), Space tourism is a danger for ozone layer and climate. [Swedish. Requires subscription]
CTV News, Space travel is open for business, but what about the environmental impact?
abc News, Experts say climate impact is a question mark if space tourism takes off.
Vox, How bad is space tourism for the environment? And other space travel questions, answered.
Aerospace America, Space transportation’s pollution conundrum.
DW, Commercial space cowboys reach for the stars.

TV and Video Interviews:
Channel 4 News, SpaceX launch makes history as four amateur astronauts orbit Earth.
Sky News, Space tourism/travel - both sides of pollution argument (Earth/Space).
abc News, Experts say climate impact is a question mark if space tourism takes off.
Mashable, What the flying spiral spotted over Hawaii actually means.
Al Jazeera English, Impact of Space Travel on the Environment. [No Link Available]

Radio Interviews:
Canada Local Radio, Space tourism: rockets emit 100 times more CO₂ per passenger than flights – imagine a whole industry.
Radio Canada, Space tourism and pollution. [Québécois]

Magazine Interviews:
De Ingenieur (The Engineer), Space tourism: more than a toy for the super-rich. [Dutch. Requires subscription]

Podcast Interviews:
BBC's The Climate Question, Is Space Travel a Problem for Climate? [Interview at 9 min 29 sec]
NPR's 1A, Branson, Bezos, and the Billionaires: the future of space tourism. [Interview at 36 min 40 sec]
Smart Prosperity, What does a new space age mean for the environment? [Interview at 10 min 09 sec]
ABC's The Signal, Billionaires in space. [Interview at 18 min 22 sec]
ABC's Future Tense, Space Pollution.

Fact Checking:
PolitiFact, How much CO2 did Bezos’ rocket ride release? Close to zero.
USA Today, Fact check: Jeff Bezos' New Shepard rocket launch didn't emit carbon.
AP News, Posts misinterpret space travel carbon emissions finding.

Additional Coverage:
The Week, Prince William and the billionaire space race’s climate problem.
Ideas.TED.com, The jaw-droppingly high, out-of-this-world carbon footprint of space tourism.
The Hill, The new billionaire space race could have serious implications for pollution.
The Guardian, How the billionaire space race could be one giant leap for pollution.
Good Morning America, Experts say climate impact is a question mark if space tourism takes off.
Business Insider, Expensive trips to the edge of space could have big effects on the atmosphere.
BBC Science Focus, Billionaire space race: what does it mean for climate change and the environment?
Billionaire astronauts = bad news for the environment
WANTED: Carbon-neutral space mission
Computing, Scientists are concerned over the climate impact of space tourism. [Requires subscription]
Tech Times, Space tourism bad for Earth? Experts claim sending Elon Musk and other billionaires to outer space is not eco-friendly. [Requires subscription]
National World, Prince William: Duke criticises ‘space race’ after William Shatner visits space on Blue Origin flight.
Inverse, Are space rockets bad for the Earth? Why the question ignores an important truth.
The Green Stars Project, The carbon footprint of space tourism.
Royal Central, William Shatner hits back at Prince William’s criticism of space travel.
The Energy Mix, As space tourism dawns, analysts ask who pays the real cost.
Intelligent Living, Space travel to save the human species could destroy the planet.
UCL Geography News, Climate sacrifices undermined by space tourism.

Evolving air pollution in cities:

Vohra et al., 2021, Atmos. Chem. & Phys.:
Phys.Org, Hidden air pollutants on the rise in cities in India and the UK: study.
CNBC, India, Levels of air pollutants on rise in Indian cities: study
Additional media coverage summarized by Altmetrics

Vohra et al., 2022, Sci. Adv.:
New York Times, A ‘new era of air pollution’ in the tropics could have a huge toll.
BBC Science in Action, Premature deaths rising in polluted tropical cities
Popular Science, Air pollution is rising quickly across dozens of growing cities
New Scientist, Tropical city air pollution led to 470,000 premature deaths in 2018

Fossil fuels and global health:

The Guardian, 'Invisible killer': fossil fuels caused 8.7m deaths globally in 2018, research finds
The Times, Pollution from fossil fuels twice as deadly as thought, scientists warn
Reuters, Fossil fuel pollution causes one in five premature deaths globally: study
Forbes, Fossil fuel pollution caused nearly 1-in-5 global deaths in 2018 groundbreaking study suggests
New Scientist, Deaths from fossil fuel air pollution are double what we thought
Extensive media coverage summarized by Altmetrics
Greta Thunberg
Naomi Oreskes

Future adoption of fossil fuels in Africa:

The Guardian, Pollutionwatch: Africa increases its reliance on fossil fuels
Harvard Press Release picked up by Science Daily, Homeland Security News Wire, Environmental News Network.
Quartz Africa, A fossil fuel-powered future for Africa will come at a drastic human cost
World Economic Forum, Why banning fossil fuels in Africa could slow the transition to renewables
Additional media coverage summarized by Altmetrics