Chad and Bangladesh ranked as the most polluted countries in 2024, with Delhi as the most polluted capital. Only seven nations met WHO air quality standards, and significant monitoring cuts by the U.S. have hampered data collection. India houses 74 of the world’s top 100 polluted cities, but overall national pollution levels have improved, leading to calls for regional cooperation in South Asia.
According to the 2024 World Air Quality Report by Swiss-based IQAir, Chad and Bangladesh have been identified as the most polluted countries globally, while Delhi in India has emerged as the most polluted capital city. Alarmingly, only seven countries have met the World Health Organization’s (WHO) air quality guidelines, highlighting Africa’s persistent under-reporting of pollution levels due to insufficient monitoring resources. Notably, U.S. cuts to environmental monitoring have further exacerbated this issue, leading to a significant data gap in air quality assessments worldwide.
The 2024 World Air Quality Report reveals a concerning picture of air pollution globally, with Chad and Bangladesh at the forefront. While India has improved its national PM2.5 levels, it still houses the majority of the world’s most polluted cities. Collaboration among South Asian nations is crucial to combat trans-boundary air pollution effectively. As countries like the U.S. diminish monitoring efforts, the potential for informed policy decisions is at risk, highlighting the urgent need for regional and global cooperation to tackle this critical issue.
Original Source: healthpolicy-watch.news
