Number of people exposed to different levels of air pollution risk globally, 2022 (Billions of People)
World Bank
24 Jun 2023
Globally, approximately 2.8B individuals are exposed to hazardous air pollution levels, posing a significant health risk, particularly in industrializing middle-income countries. This issue affects marginalized communities, who not only face exposure to pollutants but also struggle to access adequate healthcare. Fossil fuel consumption stands out as a primary contributor to this crisis. As of 2021, global subsidies amounted to $577B in policies or direct fiscal expenditures aimed at artificially reducing the prices of polluting fuels such as oil, gas, and coal. These subsidies create incentives, encouraging the excessive use of fossil fuels and worsening air pollution levels. The South Asian region, emerged as one of the most heavily impacted areas in terms of air quality in 2023. Bangladesh faces numerous sources of pollution, including 8,000 brick kilns, illegal industrial activities, plastic waste incineration, vehicular emissions, and agricultural burning. India, particularly North India and cities like Delhi, face a similar condition, struggling with poor air quality attributed to biomass burning, coal combustion, and vehicle exhaust. The annual practice of crop burning further worsens air pollution levels, with neighboring countries like Nepal and Pakistan contributing to cross-border smoke during this period.
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