Global Air Quality Crisis: Only Seven Countries Meet WHO Standards in 2024

Only seven countries met WHO air quality standards in 2024; Chad and Bangladesh are the most polluted. The U.S. has ended its global air quality monitoring, raising concerns over pollution data availability. Climate change exacerbates air pollution, and experts warn of dire consequences for developing nations that relied on U.S. data.

Recent data indicates that only seven nations complied with World Health Organization (WHO) air quality standards in 2024. Researchers express concern that combating smog will grow increasingly difficult after the U.S. halted its global air quality monitoring ventures. Chad and Bangladesh topped the list as the most polluted countries, showcasing smog levels surpassing WHO guidelines by over 15 times, according to IQAir’s assessments.

Only Australia, New Zealand, the Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, Estonia, and Iceland met the WHO air quality benchmarks outlined by IQAir. Significant data inadequacies, particularly in Asia and Africa, obscure global air quality assessments. Many developing countries previously depended on air quality sensors installed at U.S. embassies and consulates to gather smog data.

The U.S. State Department recently discontinued this initiative, citing budgetary limitations. It resulted in the removal of more than 17 years of air quality data, causing a substantial setback in real-time air quality monitoring, especially for countries like Chad. Christi Chester-Schroeder from IQAir clarified, “Most countries have a few other data sources, but it’s going to impact Africa significantly, because oftentimes these are the only sources of publicly available real-time air quality monitoring data.”

While Chad was omitted from IQAir’s 2023 list, it ranked as the most polluted in 2022, suffering from Sahara dust and uncontrolled agricultural burning. The average PM2.5 levels in Chad reached 91.8 mg/cu m last year, slightly rising from 2022, while the WHO’s recommended level stands at a maximum of 5 mg/cu m, achieved by only 17% of cities last year.

India ranked fifth among the world’s most polluted nations, following Chad, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, with average PM2.5 levels decreasing by 7% to 50.6 mg/cu m. However, it accounted for 12 of the top 20 polluted cities globally, with Byrnihat registering the highest PM2.5 concentration at 128 mg/cu m.

As climate change exacerbates pollution levels, Chester-Schroeder warned of its rising impact on air quality. Increased temperatures lead to more violent and prolonged wildfires in regions like Southeast Asia and South America. Christa Hasenkopf from the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute noted that at least 34 countries would lose access to dependable pollution data following the U.S. program’s shutdown.

Hasenkopf emphasized the positive effects the State Department’s monitoring program had on air quality, contributing to improved life expectancy in monitored cities and economic savings on hazard allowances for U.S. diplomats, underscoring its value: “(It) is a giant blow to air quality efforts worldwide.”

The latest analysis from IQAir highlights that only seven countries fulfilled WHO air quality standards in 2024, with Chad and Bangladesh noted as the most polluted. The recent cessation of U.S. global air quality monitoring poses significant challenges, particularly for developing nations reliant on these data sources. The findings indicate an urgent need for renewed commitment to air quality initiatives as climate change continues to intensify pollution issues globally.

Original Source: www.firstpost.com