BENGALURU, India — A recent report highlights the alarming state of air quality worldwide, revealing that a mere 17% of cities adhere to acceptable air pollution standards. Based on information from IQAir, a Swiss-based air quality monitoring organization, the study involved data from 40,000 monitoring stations across 138 countries. It identified Chad, Congo, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India as having the worst air quality, with India accounting for six of the nine most polluted cities, including Byrnihat, a northeastern industrial town labeled the most polluted.
Experts caution that the extent of air pollution may be significantly underestimated, as many regions do not have the requisite infrastructure for comprehensive monitoring. In particular, Africa is noted for its insufficient number of monitoring stations, with only one for every 3.7 million people. In response, more air quality monitors are being deployed, as the report indicates. This year, data was incorporated from nearly 9,000 new sites and roughly a thousand new monitors, improving the overall monitoring effort.
However, recent developments have posed challenges for monitoring endeavors. Last week, the U.S. State Department announced it would no longer provide public access to air quality data from its global embassies and consulates.
According to Fatimah Ahamad, a chief scientist and air pollution expert at the Sunway Centre for Planetary Health, prolonged exposure to polluted air can lead to severe respiratory illnesses, Alzheimer’s disease, and cancer. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that around 7 million lives are claimed yearly due to air pollution. Data also show that 99% of the global population resides in areas exceeding safe air quality thresholds.
Ahamad emphasized that while people can temporarily manage without water, the same cannot be said for air, indicating the urgency of addressing air pollution challenges.
Success stories of cities like Beijing, Seoul, and Rybnik demonstrate that it is possible to improve air quality through stricter regulations on vehicular emissions, power generation, and industrial pollutants. Investments in greener energy sources and public transportation have also played significant roles in these improvements.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreement on managing transboundary haze pollution stands as another significant regional effort. Despite its limited success thus far, the agreement has seen participating countries cooperate in monitoring and controlling pollution from recurring forest fires during dry seasons.
Shweta Narayan from the Global Climate and Health Alliance pointed out the connection between rampant air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in many highly polluted regions. Reducing emissions responsible for global warming can simultaneously lead to improved air quality.
Hence, addressing air pollution and tackling the climate crisis are interlinked challenges that need coordinated efforts. Both issues are inextricably related aspects of environmental health, necessitating immediate and comprehensive action.
