World Air Quality Report
Context:
According to the 2024 World Air Quality Report, Delhi continued to see high levels of pollution, with an annual average of 91.6 µg/m3 in 2024.
- The Swiss organisation IQAir publishes the World Air Quality Report every year.
Relevance:
GS-03 (Environment)
Key highlights of the report:
- Chad and Bangladesh were the world’s most polluted countries in 2024, with average smog levels more than 15 times higher than WHO guidelines.
- India currently ranks 5th globally in air pollution, improving from third place in 2023.
- Delhi continues to be the most polluted capital city in the world.
Prelims Question:
Consider the following statements:
- The World Air Quality Report is published by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
- According to the 2024 World Air Quality Report, India ranks 3rd in air pollution.
- With an average PM 2.5 concentration of 91.8 μg/m3, Delhi continues to be the most polluted capital city in the world.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(A) Only One
(B) Only two
(C) All three
(D) None
Answer: (A) Only One
Explanation:
- The World Air Quality Report is published by the Swiss organisation IQAir. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
- According to the 2024 World Air Quality Report, India ranks 5th in air pollution. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
- Statement 3 is correct.
