India, Dec. 11 -- Rising temperatures induced by climate change lead to higher tropospheric ozone (O3) levels, particularly in cities. Tropospheric O3 adversely affects respiratory health in humans. Human exposure to O3 has increased globally at a rate of 0.25 ppb (parts per billion) between 2000 and 2019, according to the latest Global Environment Outlook (GEO-7) report by the United Nations.

O3 exposure contributed to half a million premature deaths worldwide and mortality due to it increased by 46 per cent between 2000 and 2019, according to the analysis.

During the same time period, population-weighted O3 concentrations increased by more than 24 per cent in cities across South America, Africa, Western Europe, and South and Southeast...