One-Third of World Population Exposed to Harmful Air Pollution, EU Report Says
PARIS (AFP-Jiji) — Heat waves and wildfires combined with human-caused emissions this year combined to expose one-third of the world’s population to extremely high levels of ozone pollution, a European Union report said on Sept. 30.
An EU report revealed on September 30 that one-third of the world's population, around 2.4 billion people, have been exposed to extremely high levels of ozone pollution this year. The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) analyzed air quality between January 1 and September 15, 2026. Ozone pollution is formed when heat and sunlight interact with emissions from wildfires, vehicles, and industrial activities.
The report highlighted the growing link between climate change and air pollution, stating that ozone has proven more challenging to control due to climate change exacerbating its formation. Heat waves and wildfires, particularly in Europe and North America, played a significant role in driving ozone pollution this year. Indonesia experienced major wildfires, while the El Nino weather pattern, which began in June, could lead to more fires in Southeast Asia later this year.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends an exposure limit of 100 micrograms of ozone per cubic meter over eight hours; however, 34% of the global population experienced "extremely poor" air quality, with ozone concentrations well above this guideline. Asia had the highest rate of exposure, with 53% of its population facing "extremely poor" air quality, followed by 22% in "very poor" conditions.
Cities like New Delhi, Dhaka, Chongqing, and Lahore in Asia, as well as New York, Toronto, and Montreal in North America, experienced elevated ozone levels. Europe saw 67% of its population exposed to "poor" or "very poor" air quality, while 45% in Europe and 8% in Africa faced "extremely poor" ozone pollution. In South America, 81% of the population enjoyed "good" or "fair" ozone levels, while Oceania, including Australia and New Zealand, had 66% of its population with "good" ozone levels and 34% under "fair" conditions.
Written by urgent.news from The Japan News by The Yomiuri Shimbun's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
