If the answer is “I don’t remember” — then we have a serious problem. The quality of air around the world is deteriorating due to industrialization, burning fossil fuels, population growth, and waste disposal. This problem is affecting the health and well-being of us all.

Even though the air does not belong to any single person and is not attached to any single location, everyone and every place has an impact on what goes into the atmosphere. However, that does not change the fact that the increasing degradation of clean air is slowly turning it into a luxury commodity. Certain communities and social groups, particularly those in vulnerable locations or with low social status, are particularly impacted by air pollution.  

Can we do something about it? Satellite observations provide us with an exceptional variety of data about the air we breathe. That data becomes even more powerful when we correlate it with data that we can collect on-ground, by using qualified automatic air quality measuring stations. But that's not all – there is great value in the data that each of us can collect ourselves. In this thematic track, the group developed the concept, strategy and tools for a citizen science project based on Earth observation data. They came up with lesson scenarios using satellite and on-ground data considering the air polution.

How can specific local communities or a global community be involved in working with EO air quality data?

What goals and opportunities could be achieved through local, regional and global cooperation?

How can EO data on air quality be effectively shared with the general public in a clear, engaging, and accessible way?

How citizen science could be used to improve the quality of air?

What kind of tasks can citizens undertake to participate in citizen science projects related to air quality?

Scenario and concept of a citizen science project related to utilising both Earth observations data and on-ground collected data to improve air quality based on the engineering and installation of ESA's Air Quality Platforms in a selected city.