The State Department's air quality program received acclaim for its effective diplomacy, notably in China, where air pollution levels prompted public trust in US data over Chinese government figures. The initiative collected air quality data from embassies and was accessible via AirNow and ZephAir. However, it faced abrupt termination, ending a program described as crucial for international air quality work. Public reliance on US data became apparent during severe pollution incidents, where citizens urged for government action based on the US embassy's findings amidst discrepancies with official statistics.
"I've never seen an initiative of the US government have such an immediate, dramatic impact in a country," Gary Locke, a former US ambassador to China, told the Washington Post back in 2013.
Westervelt, who describes the DOSAir as 'a bedrock of international air quality work,' says he previously received grants from the State Department to help expand the program in Africa.
Before it was suddenly killed, State Department officials, researchers, and the public could view the international air quality data collected from US embassies.
The Chinese public, however, decided to trust the US embassy's number. Many people voiced their disappointment on social media and pushed the government to take action.
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