CNN
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A new report indicates that air pollution reached hazardous levels globally in 2021.
The IQAir report, which monitors global air quality, revealed that average yearly air pollution in each nation — and 97% of urban areas — surpassed the air quality guidelines established by the World Health Organization, intended to assist governments in formulating regulations to safeguard public health.
Merely 222 out of the 6,475 cities surveyed reported average air quality that adhered to WHO’s standards. Three territories met the WHO criteria: the French territory of New Caledonia and the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Countries such as India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh ranked among those with the most severe air pollution, with levels exceeding the guidelines by at least tenfold.
The Scandinavian nations, Australia, Canada, Japan, and the United Kingdom were noted as having among the highest air quality, with average levels exceeding the guidelines by 1 to 2 times.
In the United States, IQAir observed that air pollution levels surpassed WHO guidelines by 2 to 3 times in 2021.
“This report highlights the necessity for governments worldwide to assist in reducing global air pollution,” stated Glory Dolphin Hammes, CEO of IQAir North America, in an interview with CNN. “Fine particulate matter claims far too many lives every year, and governments must establish more rigorous national air quality standards and consider improved foreign policies that encourage better air quality.”
Above: IQAir evaluated average annual air quality across more than 6,000 urban areas and categorized them from best air quality, in blue (Adheres to WHO PM2.5 standards) to worst, in purple (Exceeds WHO PM2.5 standards by over ten times). An interactive map is available from IQAir.
This marks the initial significant global air quality evaluation based on WHO’s recent annual air pollution guidelines, which were revised in September 2021. The updated guidelines reduced the acceptable limit of fine particulate matter — or PM 2.5 — from 10 to 5 micrograms per cubic meter.
PM 2.5 is the smallest pollutant yet also one of the most harmful. Once inhaled, it penetrates deep into lung tissue and can enter the bloodstream. It originates from sources such as burning fossil fuels, dust storms, and wildfires, and has been associated with various health issues including asthma, heart disease, and other respiratory conditions.
Every year, millions succumb to issues related to air quality. In 2016, approximately 4.2 million premature deaths were linked to fine particulate matter, as per WHO data. If the guidelines from 2021 had been implemented that year, WHO estimated that nearly 3.3 million fewer deaths related to pollution could have occurred.
IQAir evaluated data from pollution-monitoring stations in 6,475 cities spanning across 117 countries, regions, and territories.
Air pollution surged in the U.S. in 2021 compared to the previous year. From the over 2,400 U.S. cities studied, Los Angeles remained the most polluted, even with a 6% reduction since 2020. The report highlighted significant pollution increases in Atlanta and Minneapolis.
“The United States’ dependence on fossil fuels, the escalating intensity of wildfires, and the inconsistent enforcement of the Clean Air Act through different administrations have all contributed to the country’s air pollution,” pointed out the authors.
Researchers identified the primary pollution sources in the U.S. as fossil fuel-powered transportation, energy generation, and wildfires, which disproportionately impact the nation’s most vulnerable and marginalized communities.
“Our heavy reliance on fossil fuels, particularly in transportation, necessitates smarter action with zero emissions,” stated Hammes, a resident of Los Angeles. “We have the solutions available to mitigate this, yet we have not taken sufficient action. The result is a devastating effect on air pollution in major urban areas.”
Climate change-induced wildfires have been a major factor in the deterioration of air quality in the U.S. in 2021. The authors pointed to several fires that caused harmful air pollution — including the Caldor and Dixie fires in California, as well as the Bootleg Fire in Oregon, which distributed smoke all the way to the East Coast in July.
China — ranked among the countries with the most severe air pollution — demonstrated improved air quality in 2021. More than half of the Chinese cities reviewed in the report reported lower air pollution levels compared to the year before. The capital, Beijing, continued a five-year streak of enhanced air quality, attributed to a policy-driven reduction of polluting industries within the metropolis.
The report also indicated that the Amazon Rainforest, which has historically served as the world’s primary defender against climate change, emitted more carbon dioxide than it absorbed last year. Deforestation and wildfires have undermined the essential ecosystem, polluted air, and contributed to climate change.
“This is all part of the equation leading to, or already causing, global warming,” stated Hammes.
The report also revealed disparities: Monitoring stations are scarce in certain developing regions across Africa, South America, and the Middle East, resulting in insufficient air quality data in those areas.
“Without that data, you remain truly uninformed,” Hammes added.
Hammes noted that the African nation of Chad was included in the report for the first time due to advancements in its monitoring network. IQAir discovered that the nation’s air pollution ranked second-highest globally last year, only behind Bangladesh.
Tarik Benmarhnia, a climate change epidemiologist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, who has examined the health effects of wildfire smoke, mentioned that relying solely on monitoring stations could result in gaps in the findings presented in these reports.
“It’s encouraging that they utilized various networks rather than depending solely on governmental sources,” stated Benmarhnia, who was not part of this report, told CNN. “Nevertheless, numerous locations lack sufficient stations, and alternative methods do exist.”
The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded in its 2021 report that, in addition to decelerating global warming, reducing fossil fuel usage would also significantly enhance air quality and public health.
Hammes emphasized that the IQAir report provides further justification for the global transition away from fossil fuels.
“We have the report, we can analyze it, and truly commit to taking action,” she expressed. “A significant shift towards renewable energy is essential. Urgent measures are required to reverse the trends of global warming; otherwise, the consequences of our trajectory may become irreversible.”
