WORLD AIR QUALITY REPORT

Why in News?                                                                                                        

According to the ‘World Air Quality Report 2023’, with an average annual PM2.5 concentration of 54.4 micrograms per cubic metre, India had the third worst air quality out of 134 countries in 2023 after Bangladesh (79.9 micrograms per cubic metre) and Pakistan (73.7 micrograms per cubic metre).

What are Findings?

• It is Published by IQAir, a Swiss Organization.
• It collected data from 7,812 places throughout 134 countries, regions, and territories.
• India has the third poorest air quality, with an average annual PM2.5 concentration of 54.4 micrograms per cubic meter.
• India performed better than only two of its neighbours, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
• While Bangladesh remained the world’s most polluted country, with an average PM2.5 concentration of 79.9 micrograms per cubic meter, Pakistan ranked second, with a level of 73.7.
• The top 5 most polluted countries in the world in 2023 included: Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Tajikistan and Burkina Faso
• For the fourth year in a row, Delhi was named the world’s most polluted capital city.
• Begusarai, Bihar, has been described as the world’s most polluted urban area followed by Guwahatiand then Delhi.
• Ten of the top eleven most polluted cities in the world are from India, with the other being Lahore, Pakistan.
• 96 percent of India’s population experiences PM2.5 levels that are more than seven times the WHO annual PM2.5 recommendation.
• For the first time in the history of this report, Canada was the most polluted country in Northern America, with the region’s 13 most polluted cities located within its borders.
• In 2022, India was ranked as the eighth most polluted country with an average PM2.5 concentration of 53.3 micrograms per cubic metre.