The State of Global Air

Since the inception of the Industrial Revolution in Western Europe and North America, the quality of air across the globe has persistently degraded. The global air quality crisis had been building up over the years and came to prominence in the late 20^th century. Despite attempts to control the damage, the quality of air continues to deteriorate. Today a staggering 99 percent of the global population breathes low-quality air.

The United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the Health Effects Institute and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation have made this shocking revelation in a joint report titled State of Global Air 2024. Data collected from over 6,000 cities has laid bare the extent of the problem, presenting statistics that should alarm the world into action.

Air pollution in South Asia has reached catastrophic levels. The region accounts for nearly 60 percent of over 7 million deaths related to poor air quality. Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India respectively remained the most polluted countries in 2023 where the quantity of particulate matter exceeded more than 10 times the limits set by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Another alarming aspect is the historical data released by IQ Air, according to which, out of the 50 most polluted cities in the world, 42 are located in India, while four are in Pakistan and one in Bangladesh.

The air quality crisis is an outcome of several interrelated issues. The continued reliance on fossil fuels, particularly by developing countries, hinders any efforts towards improving air quality. The Global North, with its historical emissions, and the Global South, with its penchant for industrialisation, make it difficult to cut down air pollutants. Furthermore, weak regulatory frameworks urban sprawls, high energy demands, and the lack of ample resources and political will render the developing nations unable to act in this regard. On the other hand, extravagant consumption patterns encouraged by capitalist economies of the Global North and emissions from the aviation sector aggravate the crisis.

Though renewable energy sources are being added to energy mixes, coal, oil, and natural gas still fuel most industries and households in many parts of the world. Furthermore, unplanned urbanisation has led to sprawling cities filled with vehicular emissions from two-wheelers, construction dust, and industrial pollutants. These urban centres are now some of the most polluted areas on Earth.

Another critical issue is the lack of international cooperation in addressing air pollution. While climate change has garnered global attention, the issue of air quality often takes a backseat, despite the clear overlap between climate pollutants and air pollutants. Methane, for example, is a major greenhouse gas and also a significant contributor to air pollution. In terms of international cooperation, the scope of the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution and the Gothenburg Protocol should be extended to include states of South Asia and affected other regions.

An analysis of policy outcomes for air quality reveals that mitigating air quality crisis is not an unrealistic dream though results from different countries are inconsistent. China has made significant strides in reducing their pollution levels by implementing strict regulatory frameworks and investing in renewable energy. The country’s ‘war on pollution’ has led to a dramatic decrease in smog in major cities like Beijing. Similarly, European nations have pushed for electric vehicles (EVs) and cleaner industries.  Though EVs have a flipside, yet the quality of air in European cities has improved with a high degree of success. India has also launched its National Clean Air Programme, however, progress has been slow, and the country’s air quality remains some of the worst in the world.

Pakistan faces severe air quality issues, particularly in urban centres such as Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Gujranwala, Faisalabad and Rawalpindi. The advent of winters leads to dense smog in the plains of the country to the extent that it is now considered the fifth season in these areas. The provincial government has implemented some measures, such as the Punjab Clean Air Plan, however, enforcement issues remain persistent, and public awareness is limited. Moreover, regional air quality cooperation between South Asian nations is minimal, despite the shared nature of the problem.

Air—once a shared, untainted resource—has become a casualty of human activity. The deterioration of air quality reflects a failure of global cooperation and a lack of political will. Without concerted efforts, it will continue to claim millions of lives and affect economies. The Global North and South both bear responsibility, though in different ways, and both must be part of the solution. By addressing the root causes of air pollution—fossil fuel dependence, unplanned urbanisation, extravagant consumptive patterns, and weak regulations—there is hope for restoring our most vital common good: the air we breathe.