A recent IQAir report highlights the persistent challenge of air pollution globally, with South Asia continuing to bear the brunt of the crisis. While India showed a slight improvement in its ranking, Pakistan and Bangladesh remain among the world's most polluted countries.
Air pollution, particularly fine particulate matter (PM2.5), contributes to one in nine deaths worldwide and is linked to serious health conditions like heart disease, asthma, and cancer. The report reveals a growing divide in air quality, with regions like South Asia and parts of Africa experiencing worsening pollution due to urbanisation, industrial activity, and climate factors.
According to the 2024-25 IQAir report, Bangladesh ranks second, and Pakistan ranks third among the most polluted countries. Pakistan's average PM2.5 level reached an alarming 73.7 µg/m³, underscoring the region's struggle with severe air pollution.
India, however, saw a slight improvement, dropping from third to fifth place. The country's average PM2.5 concentration decreased from 54.4 µg/m³ in 2023 to 50.6 µg/m³ in the current report.
In contrast, countries like Iceland, New Zealand, and Finland have managed to maintain remarkably clean air, thanks to strong environmental policies and sustainable practices. These nations not only protect their citizens' health but also offer cleaner, greener environments.
The IQAir report underscores the need for continued efforts to address air pollution, particularly in regions like South Asia. As the world aspires to cleaner environments, countries like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh must prioritise sustainable practices and environmental policies to mitigate the adverse effects of air pollution.
India improves its ranking in the 2025 pollution report, dropping from third to fifth place.
In an unprecedented sight on Wednesday evening, a 15-minute power blackout was observed in many areas of the national capital, including entire Lutyens' Delhi.
The Delhi Cabinet on Wednesday approved a proposal to conduct five cloud-seeding trials to be overseen by IIT-Kanpur.
Air pollution side effects: Here we discuss how exposure to air pollution constantly can affect your health.
Two-year-old Sumaiya Ansari, a resident of India's Byrnihat town which is ranked the world's most polluted metropolitan area by Swiss Group IQAir, was battling breathing problems for several days before she was hospitalised in March and given oxygen.
................................ Advertisement ................................
Opinion | Why Indians Have Just Given Up On Air Pollution CrisisTanushree Ganguly
Friday December 20, 2024While some may argue that people in Delhi are now more aware of air pollution than they were a decade back, my rebuttal would be that awareness does not mean that people are concerned.
Opinion | You Must Outrage Over Filthy Air More Than Once A YearJyoti Pande Lavakare
Tuesday December 10, 2024Delhi welcomed us with monsoon rains and mangos. We were home. Fast forward a couple of years, in the winter of 2012, I found myself in denial about something other parents, mostly expats, were calling toxic air.
Opinion | Delhi's Air Pollution Situation Is Like A Bad MarriageNishtha Gautam
Friday November 22, 2024On a good day, such as today, the AQI reading in Delhi is 407. We are jubilant at the sickly sunshine trickling through the slightly dissipated smog. At least its not 1600.
दिवाली... पराली... सियासी जुगाली!Ashwini kumar
Monday November 18, 2024दिल्ली-एनसीआर में प्रदूषण का समाधान तो आज तक मिला नहीं. हर साल चिंतित होकर हम-आप सांसों की तकलीफ के साथ-साथ दिल और ब्लड प्रेशर के मरीज भी क्यों बनें?
घर में कैद बुजुर्ग और हांफते लोग, दिल्ली की सांसों में घुला ये कैसा रोग?Nidhi Kulpati
Friday November 08, 2024हमारी हवा जहरीली हो रही है. गुरुवार की शाम को जब मैं इस मुद्दे पर लिखने बैठी तो AQI लगातार 400 पार जाकर दम घोंट रहा था. बहुत लोगों को यह मामला बोरिंग लगे, लेकिन जब आप अपने साथ काम करने वालों को खांसते-हांफते देखते-सुनते हैं, तो चिंता होने लगती है. सुबह उठते ही दरवाजे खिड़कियां खोलने के लिए डॉक्टर मना कर रहे हैं. बड़े बुजुर्गों के लिए तो मॉर्निंग वॉक बाहर की दुनिया से सीधे संपर्क का ज़रिया है, लेकिन डॉक्टर इसकी भी मनाही कर रहे हैं.