Global Air Quality Report Reveals Alarming Trends

A new report by IQAir has shed light on the state of air quality around the world in 2021, with alarming trends emerging from the data. The report found that average annual air pollution in every country, and 97% of cities, exceeded the World Health Organization’s (WHO) air quality guidelines. This is a stark reminder of the urgent need for governments to take action to reduce global air pollution.

Source: media.cnn.com

The WHO guidelines were updated in September 2021, with a new acceptable concentration of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) of 5 micrograms per cubic meter. This is a significant reduction from the previous guideline of 10 micrograms per cubic meter. However, despite this update, millions of people worldwide still suffer from poor air quality, with 4.2 million premature deaths associated with fine particulate matter in 2016, according to the WHO.

The IQAir report analyzed pollution-monitoring stations in 6,475 cities across 117 countries, regions, and territories. The results showed that only 222 cities had average air quality that met the WHO’s standard. The report also highlighted the countries with the worst air pollution, with India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh exceeding the guidelines by at least 10 times.

On the other hand, the Scandinavian countries, Australia, Canada, Japan, and the United Kingdom ranked among the best countries for air quality, with average levels that exceeded the guidelines by 1 to 2 times. In the United States, IQAir found air pollution exceeded WHO guidelines by 2 to 3 times in 2021. The main sources of pollution in the US were identified as fossil fuel-powered transportation, energy production, and wildfires.

The report also highlighted the impact of climate change on air quality. Climate change-fueled wildfires played a significant role in reducing air quality in the US in 2021, with the authors pointing to several major fires that led to hazardous air pollution. The Amazon Rainforest, which had previously acted as a major defender against climate change, emitted more carbon dioxide than it absorbed last year, contributing to climate change and air pollution.

The report also unveiled some inequalities in air quality monitoring. Monitoring stations remain scant in some developing countries in Africa, South America, and the Middle East, resulting in a dearth of air quality data in those regions. The authors noted that this lack of data makes it difficult to understand the full extent of air pollution in these areas.

IQAir CEO Glory Dolphin Hammes emphasized the need for governments to take action to reduce air pollution.