The 2024 World Air Quality report by IQAir shows alarming pollution levels in Chad, Bangladesh, and India. Despite major pollution challenges, only seven nations met WHO air quality guidelines. Underreporting in Africa and monitoring setbacks in the U.S. complicate global air quality assessments, necessitating regional cooperation to tackle air pollution, especially in South Asia.
The 2024 World Air Quality report released by IQAir highlights alarming air pollution levels worldwide. Chad and Bangladesh top the list as the most polluted countries, with Delhi, India identified as the most polluted capital city. Despite these findings, only seven countries globally managed to meet WHO air quality standards. Africa’s pollution remains under-reported, and effective pollution monitoring has faced setbacks due to cuts in the U.S. environmental protections under the Trump administration.
Seventy-four of the 100 most polluted cities are located in India, albeit a decrease from 83 reported the previous year. India’s PM2.5 levels averaged 50.6 micrograms per cubic meter, significantly exceeding the WHO’s safe guideline of 5 micrograms. India ranked fifth globally in national pollution, following Chad, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Meanwhile, only 17% of the nearly 9,000 surveyed cities worldwide met the WHO standards.
The report underscores the disproportionate impact of air pollution in the Global South, particularly in Asia and parts of Africa. However, only 24 out of 54 African countries reported data in 2024, highlighting ongoing data gaps. IQAir’s findings are based on extensive data collection from around 40,000 ground-level air quality monitors across 138 countries.
India, despite its high number of polluted cities, has an extensive air quality monitoring network that captures rural pollution levels, bringing down its national average compared to countries with lesser monitoring capacities. Conversely, Pakistan and Bangladesh’s higher overall pollution levels may stem from their limited urban-centric monitoring systems.
With cities like Delhi and Lahore constantly facing hazardous pollution levels leading to emergency measures, a collaborative regional approach is necessary. Experts suggest treating air pollution as a cross-border issue, not just a national one. Pollution sources shared by India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal—such as industrial emissions and vehicle pollution—require regional dialogue and cooperation.
Despite the dire situation, India has significantly enhanced its monitoring capability. The report identifies Byrnihat in Meghalaya as the most polluted location, with an astounding PM2.5 average of 128.2 micrograms per cubic meter. However, Delhi’s pollution increased by 6% to 108.3 micrograms, critically attributed to vehicular emissions and construction activities.
Meanwhile, China’s pollution levels have shown a general decline in many cities, but Indonesia remains Southeast Asia’s most polluted country, although experiencing a slight decrease in pollution levels. Notably, Vietnam faces significant economic costs due to air pollution, leading to government initiatives for awareness and action. Ultimately, effective air quality monitoring and regional cooperation will be vital for mitigating pollution across nations.
In summary, air pollution remains a pressing global challenge, with Chad and Bangladesh emerging as the top polluted nations, while India dominates the list of polluted cities. Although only seven countries meet WHO air quality standards, significant underreporting of pollution in Africa and inadequate monitoring networks in developing countries complicate the picture. Collaborative regional efforts are essential, particularly in South Asia, where transboundary pollution continues to affect multiple nations. Enhanced monitoring and data sharing will be key to implementing effective pollution control measures and protecting public health.
Original Source: healthpolicy-watch.news
