New Delhi becomes world’s most polluted capital

  • The report titled, is prepared by Swiss organisation, IQAir, in the form of the 'World Air Quality Report, 2020',
  • The report is based on PM2.5 data from 106 countries and uses ground-based monitoring stations, operated by governmental agencies, local residents, non-profit organisations and companies.

THE FINDINGS

  • South Asia remained the most polluted region of the world with Bangladesh, India and Pakistan sharing 42 of the 50 most polluted cities worldwide.
  • India is the third most polluted country in 2020 behind Bangladesh and Pakistan. 
  • In 2019, India was ranked fifth. 
  • In 2020, twenty-two of the world's 30 most polluted cities are in India. 
  • Delhi has been ranked as the most polluted capital city globally.  
  • India, on the whole, however, had improved its average annual PM 2.5 levels higher in 2020 than in 2019.
  • Air quality improved in India last year as compared to the previous years owing to the coronavirus induced lockdown. 
  • Average pollution levels were 51.9 µg/m³ in 2020 compared with 58.1 µg/m³ in 2019.


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