A recent report indicates that only seven countries globally are currently meeting the World Health Organization’s air quality standards, highlighting a concerning trend of deteriorating air quality in various regions.
Among the 134 countries and regions surveyed, Australia, Estonia, Finland, Grenada, Iceland, Mauritius, and New Zealand are the sole nations meeting WHO guidelines for airborne particulate matter emitted by vehicular and industrial sources.
Despite overall improvements in air quality compared to past centuries, significant challenges persist, particularly in regions where pollution levels pose severe health risks. Pakistan ranks as the most polluted country, surpassing the WHO standard for PM2.5 levels by more than 14 times, followed by India, Tajikistan, and Burkina Faso.
Notably, even economically prosperous nations face setbacks in mitigating air pollution, as evidenced by Canada’s recent deterioration in air quality due to unprecedented wildfires. The record-breaking wildfires unleashed toxic smoke across the country and into the United States, underscoring the urgent need for concerted global efforts to address this critical public health issue.
