Most cities fail to meet global air quality standards

Most of the world’s population breathes polluted air, with only 17% of cities meeting global air quality guidelines, a new report finds.

Sibi Arasu reports for The Associated Press.

In short:

• IQAir analyzed air quality data from 40,000 monitoring stations in 138 countries and found that Chad, Congo, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India had the worst air pollution. India had six of the world’s nine most polluted cities.
• Many regions lack adequate monitoring, with Africa averaging just one air quality station per 3.7 million people. Efforts are underway to expand monitoring networks.
• Long-term exposure to air pollution increases the risk of respiratory illness, cancer, and neurological diseases, contributing to an estimated seven million deaths annually.

Key quote:

“If you have bad water, no water, you can tell people to wait for half an hour a day, the water will come. But if you have bad air, you cannot tell people to pause breathing.”

— Fatimah Ahamad, chief scientist at Sunway Centre for Planetary Health

Why this matters:

Air pollution is a silent killer, linked to heart disease, lung disease, and cognitive decline. It disproportionately affects lower-income regions with limited monitoring and regulation. At the heart of the issue is the burning of fossil fuels — coal, oil, and gas — that not only releases harmful pollutants but also drives climate change. The warming planet intensifies wildfires, which in turn worsen air quality, creating a feedback loop of environmental and public health crises. Meanwhile, regulatory oversight varies widely, with some regions benefiting from strict emissions limits while others lack basic monitoring, leaving millions exposed to dangerously high levels of pollution.

Learn more: U.S. stops global air quality monitoring at embassies