Air Trade

The air trade industry is transforming one of the world’s most basic resources into a luxury item. From the snowy peaks of the Rockies to the lush valleys of New Zealand, clean air is now captured, compressed, and shipped globally. But how did we reach this point?

The Kyoto Protocol of 1997 introduced carbon trading systems that allowed companies to trade carbon credits, indirectly commodifying air. Carbon credits, also known as emissions trading, is commonly referred to as "cap and trade." Environmentally damaging industries receive credits that allow them to pollute the atmosphere to a certain extent. If they don’t use all their credits, they can sell them to other industries. This system puts a price on reducing pollution and set a precedent for treating air as a tradable asset. By 2023, this market was worth 949 billion dollars globally, allowing companies to benefit from trading the problem elsewhere rather than solving it directly.

The intention behind the cap-and-trade system is to incentivize companies to invest in low-carbon technologies and meet climate targets. However, a significant flaw exists: many companies may choose to buy carbon credits from less-polluting firms instead of investing in sustainable practices. Reducing emissions through environmentally friendly means requires substantial investments, and the easier, cheaper route of purchasing credits undermines the system's goals.

Cap and trade isn’t the only air-related market growing rapidly. In the 1990s and 2000s, demand for air purifiers surged, driven by increasing concerns over urban pollution and indoor air quality. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this demand even further. By 2023, the global air purifier industry was valued at 15.3 billion dollars. Newer models now include advanced filtration systems, such as activated carbon filters and UV-C light, designed to combat various airborne contaminants. The global UV air purifier market alone was valued at 1.4 billion dollars in 2022, projected to reach 4.4 billion by 2030.

As urban air quality worsens globally, especially in rapidly industrializing countries, clean air has become a highly sought-after commodity. Startups began selling personal air filtration systems and portable oxygen devices. This trend further solidified the idea of air as a purchasable product, setting the stage for another surprising market: bottled air.

The early 2000s saw the rise of bottled air as a novelty product. Companies in Canada, Australia, and Switzerland began capturing air from pristine locations and selling it in small canisters, targeting markets with severe air pollution, such as China and India. These products were marketed as luxury items, similar to the bottled water industry—an idea once considered absurd but eventually widely accepted. As clean air became a sought-after commodity in highly polluted regions, companies were selling canisters of air in 2015 for 14 to 20 dollars, depending on the size.

In countries that import air, the product is generally viewed as a luxury or novelty, targeted at wealthier individuals willing to pay for the assurance of clean, high-quality air. It is not yet a mainstream product, but the marketing of these products appeals to consumers who associate clean air with better health and well-being.

The trade of air as a commodity has raised ethical concerns. Many argue that air, a basic human necessity, should not be restricted to those who can afford it, highlighting issues of accessibility and inequality. Additionally, transporting air across long distances creates a carbon footprint, which can undermine the environmental benefits of providing clean air to polluted areas. Furthermore, there is no global regulatory framework for air trade, as air is not traditionally considered a commodity under international law. Developing new frameworks for air trade would require balancing commercial interests with public health and environmental protection.

Whether air will become a major commodity in the future is difficult to predict, but we must ask ourselves: should we be buying air, or should we be fixing the air we already have? Governments worldwide have taken bold steps to combat air pollution, creating clean air zones, restricting polluting vehicles, and promoting public transportation, walking, and cycling. They have shifted to zero-emission vehicles, built electric vehicle infrastructure, and decarbonized electricity grids by adopting renewable energy sources and solar installations. These actions accelerate the transition to cleaner air and reduce pollution.

So, whether air will become a significant commodity with countries importing and exporting it is hard to predict. But hopefully nations will prioritize finding permanent solutions to air quality issues, ensuring that everyone—rich or poor—can equally benefit from clean air. After all, breathing clean air should be an inseparable human right.

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