Global Air Pollution Surged in 2021, Most Cities Fail WHO Standards

Global — Ekhbary News Agency

Global air pollution reached alarming levels in 2021, with a new report revealing that nearly every country and 97% of cities worldwide failed to meet the World Health Organization's updated air quality guidelines. IQAir, a company specializing in global air quality tracking, published these stark findings, highlighting a pervasive environmental health crisis. Only a mere 222 out of 6,475 analyzed cities managed to adhere to WHO's stringent standards, underscoring the widespread failure to protect public health.

Regional Disparities and Health Impacts

The report pinpointed India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh as nations where air pollution exceeded guidelines by at least tenfold, marking them as severe hotspots. Conversely, Scandinavian countries, Australia, Canada, and Japan recorded better air quality, though still surpassing WHO limits. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5), a tiny yet dangerous pollutant, contributes to millions of premature deaths annually. Glory Dolphin Hammes, CEO of IQAir North America, urged governments to implement more rigorous national air quality standards. It's plain to see that our dependence on fossil fuels and increasing wildfires exacerbate this global challenge, demanding immediate policy shifts.