Global Smog Battle Faces New Challenges as U.S. Ends Air Monitoring Efforts

Only seven countries met WHO air quality standards in 2024 amid growing pollution. The U.S. has ceased its embassy-based global air monitoring program due to budget cuts, impacting data access in developing countries. Climate change exacerbates the issue with rising temperatures increasing pollution levels.

In 2024, only seven nations met the stringent air quality standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO), stark data released Tuesday reveals. Experts caution that combating widespread smog will become more challenging following the cessation of U.S. global air monitoring initiatives.

Countries such as Chad and Bangladesh ranked as the world's most polluted, with smog levels far exceeding WHO guidelines. Meanwhile, Australia, New Zealand, and a few Caribbean and European nations managed to meet the necessary standards, according to air quality monitoring firm IQAir.

The decision by the State Department to halt the deployment of air quality sensors at U.S. embassies significantly affects pollution data collection, particularly in developing regions reliant on this information. This move, alongside rising temperatures driving up pollution levels, presents a major setback for global air quality improvement efforts.

(With inputs from agencies.)