Air pollution has for centuries been one of the most severe forms of environmental damage. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that around 7 million premature deaths every year are due to the effects of air pollution. WHO reports also stated that more than 500,000 of those deaths occur in the Middle East.
The United Nations General Assembly designated September 7 as the International Day of Clean Air for blue skies to combat the alarming decline in air quality through several awareness campaigns. The WHO also announced it would launch WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines to help guide legislation and policies to reduce levels of air pollutants and decrease the burden of disease that results from exposure to air pollution worldwide.
This year’s International Day of Clean Air for blue skies, under the theme 'Healthy Air. Healthy Planet’, stresses the health effects of air pollution, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to reports, more than 90 percent of the world’s population lives in areas where pollution levels exceed WHO’s guidelines. Exposure to PM2.5 (fine inhalable aerosol particles harmful to human health) is five to ten times higher in South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa than in North America and Europe.
“Air pollution is the single largest threat to the global environment and impacts people of all age groups. Polluted air has been responsible for the widespread proliferation of different strains of coronavirus,” Salman Zafar, Founder, EcoMENA, told The Peninsula.
In the Middle East, a dependence on fossil fuels and the desert climate contributes significantly to its air pollution problem. Hence, the adverse effects of climate change linked to elevated temperatures across the region would also increase atmospheric pollution, with significant health implications.
“The Middle East is among the worst performers in air quality. The recorded levels of air pollution exceed 5 to 10 times the WHO limits, and several Middle Eastern cities are among the 20 most polluted cities in the world,” Zafar stated.
IQAir’s (a global air quality information and tech company) 2020 World Air Quality Report stated that human-related emissions from industry and transport fell during lockdowns, and 65 percent of global cities analyzed experienced better air quality in 2020 compared to 2019. Some 84 percent of nations polled reported air quality improvements overall.
In Qatar, Government has continuously emphasised its resolve to tackle the effects of climate and improve the air quality.
The Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) recently announced plans to increase air quality monitoring stations to 50 by 2022.
The ‘Plant Million Tree’ initiative, which has seen over 500,000 trees planted, is another significant policy by the government. Diversification from a carbon-based economy into a more sustainable economic model has become an essential priority for the government.
Cabinet’s approval for the preparation of a strategic plan shows Qatar's commitment to combat climate change through diversifying its economy.
“Qatar can mitigate the air quality problem by reducing emissions including reduced dependence on fossil fuels, improvement in fuel quality, adoption of renewable energy technologies and energy-efficient devices,” Zafar stressed.
