Our health depends on the quality of air indoors, where most of us spend 90% of our time. The easiest solution is to open a window, but what if that’s not an option?
A pall of inaction and apathy hangs over Delhi’s reaction to its air pollution crisis.
Reuters/Anindito Mukherjee
While India struggles for answers to its urban air pollution crisis, Beijing is moving forward with strong resolve and effective policy.
Fracking has led to an increase in truck traffic, one of the reasons for worsening trends on air quality in areas with oil and gas drilling.
AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast
The fracking boom has led to a large increase of hydrocarbon emissions in rural areas, reversing some regional air toxics trends.
Residents of high-density housing might value features such as balconies, but when roads get busy this increases exposure to pollution.
Adam J.W.C./Wikipedia
Many new housing developments are being built along busy roads and rail lines, but lack design features that would reduce occupants’ exposure to harmful traffic pollution.
Greener and better ventilated offices can lead to better performance of employees.
jingdianjiaju1/flickr
But the most effective measures will be unpopular.
Want cleaner air? Stop leaving your car engine running while you’re stopped at lights or waiting for a passenger, and demand better regulations from the government.
AAP Image/Dean Lewins
Australia needs stronger policy aimed at curbing air pollution, but the options currently on the table fall short. For now, we could all aim to drive less and turn off the engine when the car is idle.
Citizens and activists are using cheap off-the-shelf sensors to collect their own data on air pollution. It’s a promising trend, but these devices have serious technical limitations.
A man burns rubbish on the side of a road in Dandora in Nairobi, Kenya.
Reuters/Siegfried Modola
Africa has largely been ignored when it comes to official global air quality programmes. Yet low-income countries like many of those in Africa are particularly affected by air pollution.
U.S. states need to put in place new ozone air quality standards, but how they are measured – based on peak ozone – doesn’t always best reflect a city’s overall air quality.
The Paris climate summit yielded a pact to reduce air pollutants that contribute to global warming but missed a chance to address the interlinked effects of agriculture and climate.
Ground-level ozone levels in US lag other countries’ guidelines for air quality.
urbanfeel/flickr
The US has stricter ozone rules but the limits lag guidelines set by some other countries and more coordination in regulation is needed to address air pollution globally.
Eleven million cars worldwide could be affected by the scandal.
Reuters/Arnd Wiegmann
Volkswagen’s cheating allowed its vehicles to pass rigorous emissions testing, giving customers maximum driving performance at the cost of the environment and our health.
Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Air Quality & Health Research and Evaluation, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney; Senior Research Fellow, South West Sydney Clinical School, UNSW Sydney