This　research　endeavors　to　investigate　the　causal　relationship　between　climate　change　and　pollution　intensity,　employing　a　county-level　dataset　encompassing　meteorological　data　and　air　pollution　measurements　from　2008　to　2017　in　China.　We　discern　the　immediate　causal　impact　of　“local　temperature　shocks”　on　pollution　intensity,　uncovering　a　positive　association　between　climate　change　and　pollution　intensity.　Notably,　this　effect　manifests　with　greater　significance　in　economically　underdeveloped　regions,　the　northern　provinces,　and　cities　not　reliant　on　resource-based　industries.　Moreover,　we　disentangle　the　influence　of　extreme　heat　on　air　pollution　into　three　distinct　facets:　scale,　technological,　and　structural　effects.　Our　findings　reveal　that　extreme　heat　augments　energy　demand,　diminishes　energy　efficiency,　and　amplifies　coal　consumption,　consequently　elevating　pollution　intensity.　Drawing　upon　the　SSP126　and　SSP585　climate　change　scenarios　for　future　Chinese　cities　in　the　short-term　(2041–2060),　mid-term　(2061–2080),　and　long-term　(2081–2100),　our　simulation　outcomes　demonstrate　that　the　escalating　frequency　of　hot　days　will　perpetuate　an　adverse　impact　on　pollution　intensity　across　China＇s　counties.　This　study　presents　a　fresh　perspective　on　the　environmental　repercussions　of　climate　change　and　provides　theoretical　underpinning　for　local　authorities　in　their　endeavors　to　attain　concurrent　reductions　in　both　pollution　and　carbon　emissions.　©　2024　Elsevier　B.V.