A staggering majority of the world’s population is inhaling dirty air, with only 17% of cities worldwide meeting air pollution guidelines, according to a new report released Tuesday by Switzerland-based IQAir. The air quality monitoring database, drawing from 40,000 stations across 138 countries, paints a grim picture of global air health, identifying Chad, Congo, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India as having the most polluted air. India alone hosts six of the nine worst-affected cities, with Byrnihat, an industrial town in the northeast, topping the list.
The report warns that the true extent of air pollution may be significantly underestimated due to sparse monitoring in many regions. In Africa, for instance, there is just one air quality station for every 3.7 million people. Despite this, efforts to expand monitoring are underway—data from 8,954 new locations and about 1,000 additional monitors were included in this year’s analysis, reflecting a push for better tracking.
Also Read: Private Space Race Heats Up with Two Moon Landings in a Week
However, a setback came last week when the U.S. State Department announced it would cease publicizing air quality data from its embassies and consulates worldwide, potentially hindering global transparency efforts.
Health Risks and Urgent Calls for Action
Fatimah Ahamad, chief scientist at Malaysia’s Sunway Centre for Planetary Health, highlighted the dire health consequences of prolonged exposure to polluted air, including respiratory illnesses, Alzheimer’s disease, and cancer. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates air pollution claims approximately 7 million lives annually. A prior WHO report found that 99% of people live in areas failing to meet recommended air quality standards.
“Bad air isn’t like bad water—you can’t ask people to stop breathing for a while,” Ahamad stressed, urging stronger action to curb pollution levels.
Success Stories and Regional Efforts
Some cities offer hope. Beijing, Seoul, and Rybnik, Poland, have slashed pollution through stringent regulations on vehicle emissions, power plants, and industrial activity, alongside investments in cleaner energy and public transit. In Southeast Asia, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has tackled transboundary haze from forest fires through a cooperative agreement. Though its impact remains limited, the 10-nation pledge to monitor and reduce such pollution marks a step forward.
A Dual Crisis: Air Pollution and Climate Change
Shweta Narayan of the Global Climate and Health Alliance pointed to a critical overlap between air pollution and climate change. Regions with the worst air quality often rely heavily on coal, oil, and gas—major sources of planet-warming emissions. Narayan argued that cutting these emissions could simultaneously improve air quality and slow global heating. “Air pollution and the climate crisis are two sides of the same coin,” she said.
As the report underscores the pervasive threat of dirty air, experts and advocates call for a global push to expand monitoring, enforce stricter regulations, and address the intertwined challenges of pollution and climate change. Without swift action, billions will continue to breathe air that silently jeopardizes their health.
