Only seven countries in the world have safe air to breathe.3 of them are in Europe

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A new report from Swiss air quality technology company IQAir reveals that only seven countries in the world met safe air pollution levels in 2023.

The Global Air Quality Report, released this week, draws on data from more than 30,000 monitoring stations in 134 countries, territories and territories.

Of these, 124 were found to violate safe levels of PM2.5 (fine particulate matter) as per World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.

These tiny particles, less than 2.5 microns in diameter, can be inhaled deep into the lungs and even reach the bloodstream. They have been linked to increased risk of heart and lung disease, high blood pressure, asthma, depression and anxiety, and early death.

Which seven countries have safe air quality levels?

The seven countries that have met the safety guidelines of less than 5 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3) of air are Australia; estoniaFinland, Grenada, Iceland, Mauritius, and New Zealand.

Puerto Rico, Bermuda, french polynesia were also within safe levels.

In Europe there was Iceland the cleanest air4μg/m3, followed by Estonia with 4.7μg/m3 and Finland with 4.9μg/m3.

using the color scale, pollution Many countries in Europe fall into the green category, which indicates levels up to twice the safety standards.

In order of least contamination, these include: SwedenIreland, Norway, Portugal, Liechtenstein, Denmark, United Kingdom, Andorra, Latvia, Ukraine, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, France, Austria, Spain, Russia.

European cities have shown improvement since the 2022 report, with 54% classified as green in 2023, compared to 39% the previous year.

How bad is air pollution in other European countries?

The yellow category, which indicates pollution levels up to three times higher than safety standards, includes Lithuania, Czech Republic, Hungary, Malta, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Poland, Cyprus, Slovenia And Italy.

Croatia made the most progress in reducing PM2.5 levels in 2023, with an annual average reduction of more than 40 percent compared to 2022. It has achieved this by increasing the use of renewable energy, which so far accounts for more than 31 percent of renewable energy. The country’s energy mix is ​​well above the EU average of 23 percent.

Croatia has also introduced the following policies: phase out coal Reduce methane emissions by 30 percent below 2020 levels by 2033 and end deforestation by 2030.

In the orange category, up to five times above the safe level, Moldova; RomaniaAlbania, Greece, Turkiye, Serbia and Montenegro.

Bosnia-Herzegovina Although PM2.5 levels in 2023 decreased by 18% compared to 2022, it remains the most polluted country in the region, followed by North Macedonia. In both cases, the contamination level exceeded five times the safety standard and was placed in the red category.

In Igdil Tolkier is the most polluted city in Europe, with PM2.5 levels over nine times the safe standard.

Which country is the most polluted in the world?

The countries with the worst air quality were concentrated in South and Central Asia, home to the world’s top 10 most polluted cities.

bangladesh took the enviable top spot with 79.9 μg/m3. This was more than 15 times higher than the WHO’s annual PM2.5 guidelines.

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Pakistan The second place was a level 14 times higher than the safety standard. India followed suit, recording PM2.5 levels 10 times the standard value. The country is home to four of the world’s most polluted cities, with Begusarai, an industrial city in the northeast, being the worst.

Tajikistan and Burkina Faso were the fourth and fifth most polluted countries, both with PM2.5 levels nine times higher than safe standards.

For the first time in the history of IQAir’s six reports, Canada It is the most polluted country in North America and has 13 of the most polluted cities in the region.

Why is air quality data important?

Air quality reports serve as an important call to action to control air pollution. pollution levelwhich is usually worst in areas where vulnerable and underrepresented groups of people live.

A lack of data across African countries means that a third of the continent’s population does not have access to air quality data, and many are unable to participate in research.

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“A clean, healthy and sustainable environment is universal.” human rights” said Frank Hames, IQAir Global CEO. “In many parts of the world, a lack of air quality data delays decisive action and perpetuates unnecessary human suffering.

“Air quality data saves lives. When air quality is reported, action is taken and air quality improves.”

Efforts to “control the causes of border crossings” are urgently needed. mist Aidan Farrow, senior air quality scientist at Greenpeace International, said:

“In 2023, air pollution will still be global; health catastrophe” he says. “IQAir’s global dataset provides an important reminder of the resulting injustices and the need to implement the many solutions that exist to this problem.”