Guwahati ranks 2nd most polluted city in world!!

World Air Quality Report 2023: Guwahati ranks 2^nd most polluted city in world!!

KAKALI DAS

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), unsafe air is a common issue shared by most countries.

In a recent study conducted by the WHO, air pollution was analysed across 134 nations and regions, leading to a disturbing and concerning finding. Only seven countries on Earth enjoy clean air: Australia, Estonia, Finland, Grenada, Iceland, Mauritius, and New Zealand.

Conversely, all other nations contend with toxic air, with certain regions such as Asian and African nations facing higher levels of pollution, notably Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India leading the list.

According to the ‘World Air Quality Report 2023’, Guwahati, the gateway to northeast India, ranked as the world’s second most polluted city last year, with an average annual PM2.5 concentration of 105.4 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³), exceeding WHO guidelines by 21 times.

What factors contribute to this situation? And what implications does this have for our global community?

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Human beings rely on four essential elements for survival: food, water, shelter, and air.

When even one of these necessities is jeopardized, maintaining a healthy lifestyle becomes challenging. This is precisely the predicament we are facing.

Our fourth essential need, the air we breathe, is facing a dire threat. Air pollution stands as the foremost environmental cause of death globally, claiming approximately 7 million lives annually worldwide.

This toll surpasses the combined fatalities from AIDS and malaria. The prevalence of unsafe air is pervasive across most countries worldwide.

Only seven countries stand as outliers: Australia, Estonia, Finland, Grenada, Iceland, Mauritius, and New Zealand. These nations represent rare oases of safe air amidst the prevailing pollution. While unsettling, this assertion is supported by the World Health Organization.

The World Health Organization conducted a comprehensive study of air pollution levels across 134 nations and regions, revealing that toxic air is prevalent in all but seven countries.

However, the impact is not uniform, with the most severe air quality issues concentrated mainly in Asia and Africa, ironically, where the majority of the global population resides.

Leading the list are the five most polluted countries in the world: Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Tajikistan, and Burkina Faso. In Bangladesh, pollution levels exceed WHO guidelines by 15 times, while in Pakistan, they surpass them by over 14 times. Similarly, in India, pollution levels exceed WHO standards by more than 10 times.

However, it’s crucial to note that these figures represent averages. Upon closer examination, the situation worsens considerably. In addition to analyzing nations, the World Health Organization scrutinized urban areas, evaluating 7,800 cities worldwide.

From this analysis, a list of the 100 cities with the most severe air pollution emerged. Remarkably, 99 of these cities, where air pollution is most acute, are located in Asia. Furthermore, an overwhelming 83 of them are situated within a single country: India.

The title of the most polluted city in the world goes to Begusarai, situated in the state of Bihar, housing a population of half a million. Its air pollution levels exceed the WHO guideline by a staggering 23 times. Following closely are Guwahati in Assam and the capital city of New Delhi.

India is not alone in grappling with high pollution levels; its neighbour, China, faces similar challenges. In 2014, Beijing initiated a campaign against pollution, which yielded significant progress. However, despite years of improvement, China experienced a 6.3% rise in pollution levels in 2023. The attributed cause was an increase in economic activity following the reopening post-COVID.

In various regions like Asia and Africa, soaring air pollution levels are attributed to factors such as heavy vehicle traffic, burning of crops and wood. Conversely, in North America, wildfires are a significant contributor to air pollution.

However, one overarching factor can be pointed to worldwide – fossil fuel emissions. This remains the primary contributor to air pollution, accounting for one in every five deaths globally. Despite extensive research and discussions, a viable solution to address air pollution remains elusive. Consequently, billions of people are compelled to inhale toxic air on a daily basis, without an immediate remedy in sight.

20-03-2024

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