Poorest areas bear brunt of air pollution, US study shows
GuardianJUL 2022
Report: Only Seven Nations in the World Breathe Clean Air
Above: People crossing amidst heavy smog at Dwarka, on Jan. 9, 2025 in New Delhi, India. Image copyright: Vipin Kumar/Contributor/Hindustan Times via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
The world is making measurable progress in combating air pollution, with more cities meeting WHO guidelines and major improvements being made in countries like India and China. The expansion of air quality monitoring networks and implementation of stricter emission controls demonstrate the growing global commitment to addressing this crisis.
Narrative B
The stark disparities in air quality between developed and developing nations, combined with significant data gaps and the recent shutdown of US monitoring programs, highlight how the world's poorest regions continue to bear the greatest burden of air pollution while lacking the resources to address it effectively.
Narrative C
Air pollution may be the world’s leading environmental cause of illness and premature death, but dirty air and climate change are two sides of the same coin. Only by tackling them jointly, particularly in low—and middle-income countries, can the world strengthen human capital and reduce poverty.