Air Quality Alert: Countries Choking On Pollution

Air pollution is a significant global health problem, contributing to millions of premature deaths annually. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 91-99% of the world's population lives in areas where air quality exceeds recommended guidelines. While the cleanest countries, such as Switzerland, France, and Denmark, have strong environmentally friendly policies and initiatives, other nations struggle with poor air quality, primarily driven by industrial growth, traffic congestion, and biomass burning. As of 2024, the world's 100 worst polluted cities were in Asia, with 83 of them located in India, known for its crop burning and weak wind patterns that trap smog. Chad, the most polluted country in 2022, and Iraq, which has seen a sharp increase in pollution due to environmental and conflict-related challenges, also face critical air quality issues. These countries, along with others facing similar challenges, have a long way to go in addressing the health and environmental impacts of air pollution.

Chad: the world's most polluted country in 2022

Chad, a landlocked country in central Africa, is known for its stunning natural landscapes, diverse cultural heritage, and vibrant communities. However, in recent years, it has also gained an unfortunate distinction as one of the world's most polluted countries. This issue came into sharp focus in 2022 when Chad was identified as having the worst air quality globally.

The country's air quality issues are complex and multifaceted. One significant contributor to Chad's poor air quality is the widespread practice of open burning. In many parts of the country, burning waste, vegetation, and agricultural residues is common, releasing harmful pollutants into the atmosphere. This practice is often driven by a lack of access to adequate waste management infrastructure and alternatives, particularly in rural areas.

Additionally, Chad's geographical location and climate play a role in its air quality challenges. Being landlocked and surrounded by deserts, the country experiences frequent dust storms that blanket the region with particulate matter, further degrading air quality. The harmattan, a seasonal wind that blows dust and sand from the Sahara Desert, is a regular occurrence and significantly impacts visibility and respiratory health.

Moreover, industrial activities and a growing number of vehicles in urban areas contribute to the air pollution problem. Unregulated emissions from factories, power plants, and vehicle exhaust fumes release harmful pollutants, including nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter, exacerbating respiratory issues among the population.

The consequences of this severe air pollution are dire. According to the World Health Organization, air pollution is responsible for more than 10% of all deaths worldwide. In Chad, respiratory illnesses and cardiovascular diseases associated with air pollution have placed a significant burden on the country's healthcare system. The situation is especially critical for vulnerable groups, such as children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions.

Despite the challenges, there is a glimmer of hope. Community-driven initiatives and grassroots efforts to monitor and improve air quality have emerged in Chad. Local organizations and citizen scientists are taking matters into their own hands, advocating for change and filling the gaps in official monitoring networks. Their efforts are crucial in raising awareness, empowering communities, and pushing for collaborative actions to address this pressing environmental and public health issue.

Iraq: pollution worsened by industrial growth, traffic congestion, and dust storms

Iraq is one of the countries with the worst air quality, and this is due to a combination of factors, including industrial growth, traffic congestion, and dust storms.

Iraq's massive oil fields, located in both the northern and southern regions of the country, are major contributors to its poor air quality. Oil operations account for a significant portion of the country's economy, with the Iraqi Embassy in Washington, D.C., stating that they make up "95% of foreign exchange earnings." Gas flaring, the burning of excess methane gas during oil drilling, releases toxic gases such as benzene, which are extremely harmful to human health. While Iraqi laws prohibit oil and gas infrastructure from being within 10 kilometers of residential areas, these laws are often not enforced, as seen in Rumaila, where the world's third-largest oil field is located less than 5 kilometers from residential housing.

The country's reliance on oil and gas has also led to a lack of investment in other sectors, such as public transportation, which could help reduce traffic congestion, another major contributor to air pollution in Iraq. The increase in the number of vehicles on Iraqi roads has led to severe traffic congestion, which in turn increases the emission of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide.

To address this issue, the Iraqi government has considered various solutions, including improving transportation infrastructure by launching new projects such as subways and trains. Additionally, there have been suggestions to expand roads, build overpasses, and increase the number of lanes to reduce congestion and improve air quality, similar to the measures taken in Cairo, Egypt.

In addition to industrial growth and traffic congestion, dust storms also contribute to Iraq's poor air quality. The country's geographical location makes it prone to dust storms, which can carry large amounts of dust and particulate matter, further worsening air quality and posing health risks to the population.

To mitigate the effects of air pollution and improve the country's climate situation, Iraq, with the help of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), has revised policies addressing greenhouse emissions in the oil and gas sectors, as well as in agriculture. Iraq aims to lower its greenhouse gas emissions by 15% by 2035 by utilizing excess methane for electricity production and improving crop management to reduce methane emissions.

India: 83 of the 100 cities with the world's worst air pollution in 2024

According to a 2024 report by IQAir, 83 of the 100 cities with the worst air pollution in the world are located in India. The report, which tracks air quality worldwide, specifically examined fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, which is the tiniest yet most dangerous type of air pollutant.

The findings revealed that all 83 Indian cities exceeded the World Health Organization's (WHO) air quality guidelines by more than ten times. The WHO's recommended limit for PM2.5 is 10 micrograms per cubic meter, while the annual average levels in these Indian cities were significantly higher. This alarming rate of air pollution in India is attributed to various factors, including industrial growth, traffic congestion, and dust storms, all of which take a toll on the health of billions of people.

The climate crisis plays a pivotal role in exacerbating the air quality situation in India and other Asian countries. The lack of monitoring stations in certain regions, such as Africa, South America, and the Middle East, also contributes to a dearth of air quality data, making it challenging to fully grasp the extent of the problem. However, India is not alone in its struggle against air pollution. Other countries, like Chad, which ranked as the most polluted country in 2022, and Iraq, which has seen a sharp increase in PM2.5 concentrations due to industrial and traffic-related activities, are also facing critical air quality issues.

The health implications of air pollution are dire, contributing to a range of health problems, including breathing issues, asthma, and even congenital disabilities. According to the World Health Organization, air pollution causes approximately 7 million premature deaths annually, with 91-99% of the world's population residing in areas where air quality exceeds the recommended guidelines. It is evident that air pollution is a pressing global issue that demands urgent attention and collective efforts to implement environmentally friendly policies and initiatives to mitigate its harmful effects.

China: Beijing experienced a 14% increase in PM2.5 concentration in 2023

China has long struggled with poor air quality, with air pollution posing a significant threat to public health. In 2019, China ranked as the 11th dirtiest country in the world, with a PM2.5 average of 42.1 µg/m³. To address this issue, the Chinese government has been taking action to improve air quality, especially in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, also known as Jing-Jin-Ji. This region recorded an annual average PM2.5 concentration of 93 µg/m³ in 2014, which is far above the World Health Organization's recommended limit of 10 µg/m³.

In 2013, the Chinese government issued the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan, demonstrating its commitment to tackling this problem. As a result of these efforts, the levels of PM2.5 and sulphur dioxide (SO2) dropped significantly between 2013 and 2018. The use of flue-gas desulphurisation technology at power plants contributed to the reduction of SO2.

However, in 2023, Beijing experienced a 14% increase in PM2.5 concentration, indicating a setback in the fight for better air quality. This rise in hazardous airborne particles is concerning, as air pollution can negatively impact nearly every organ and system in the body and contribute to premature deaths worldwide. To address this recent increase, China has issued a new action plan that aims to strictly and reasonably control total coal use and curb high-emissions projects.

By 2025, China targets a 10% reduction in PM2.5 density compared to 2020 levels and strives to keep the number of days with severe pollution to less than 1%. To achieve these goals, the country plans to develop new and clean energy sources, increase natural gas production, and reduce coal consumption in specific regions, including the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area and the Yangtze River Delta region.

While China grapples with air pollution, it is encouraging to see the government's ongoing efforts and investments to combat this issue. The implementation of environmental standards and the adoption of new technologies are positive steps towards improving air quality and protecting the health and well-being of its citizens.

Indonesia: the most polluted country in Southeast Asia in 2023

Indonesia, the world's largest island nation, experienced an overall decline in air quality across the country in 2023, particularly in its capital, Jakarta, and several major cities on the islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan. The return of El Niño in 2023 resulted in a drier-than-normal dry season, causing elevated levels of air pollution due to low rainfall and a higher risk of forest and land fires.

The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) found that the 2023 air pollution levels in Jakarta were the worst since 2019, with over 29 million residents in the Jakarta Metropolitan Area exposed to unhealthy levels for more than half of the year. The air quality in South Tangerang was classified as "Unhealthy" for 10 months, and for the remaining two months, it fell into the "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" category.

Forest fires are the primary source of Indonesia's air pollution. In October 2015, nearly 5,000 fires burned simultaneously across forests and peatlands, producing approximately 80 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide in just one day. The transportation and energy production sectors also contribute significantly to the country's air pollution. Indonesia's rapid industrialisation and urbanisation have led to increasing emissions from coal-fired power plants, vehicles, construction, and household activities.

To address the air pollution crisis, CREA recommends enforcing updated emissions standards for thermal power plants and establishing real-time emissions reporting systems accessible to the public. Indonesia's vast archipelago of over 17,000 islands presents a unique challenge in coordinating emission reduction efforts across diverse regions. Despite these challenges, improving air quality is crucial for the health and well-being of Indonesia's approximately 267 million residents.

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