London%2C%20San%20Francisco%2C%20and%20Beijing%20are%20among%2019%20major%20global%20cities%20that%20have%20recorded%20dramatic%20improvements%20in%20air%20quality%2C%20cutting%20two%20harmful%20air%20pollutants%20by%20more%20than%2020%25%20over%20the%20past%20decade%2C%20according%20to%20a%20new%20international%20analysis.%0A%0AThe%20findings%20show%20that%20targeted%20clean%20air%20policies%20%E2%80%94%20including%20expanded%20cycling%20infrastructure%2C%20increased%20adoption%20of%20electric%20vehicles%20(EVs)%2C%20and%20strict%20restrictions%20on%20high-emission%20vehicles%20%E2%80%94%20have%20played%20a%20key%20role%20in%20reducing%20toxic%20air%20pollution%20levels.%0A%0A%3Ch2%3EWhich%20cities%20reduced%20pollution%20the%20most%3F%3C%2Fh2%3E%0A%0AThe%20report%20highlights%20standout%20performers%20in%20reducing%20fine%20particulate%20matter%20(PM2.5)%20and%20nitrogen%20dioxide%20(NO2)%20%E2%80%94%20two%20pollutants%20strongly%20linked%20to%20respiratory%20and%20cardiovascular%20disease.%0A%0A%E2%80%A2%20Beijing%20and%20Warsaw%20led%20global%20progress%20in%20lowering%20PM2.5%20levels%2C%20cutting%20fine%20particle%20pollution%20by%20more%20than%2045%25.%0A%0A%E2%80%A2%20Amsterdam%20and%20Rotterdam%20recorded%20the%20largest%20drops%20in%20nitrogen%20dioxide%2C%20reducing%20NO2%20concentrations%20by%20over%2040%25.%0A%0A%E2%80%A2%20San%20Francisco%20was%20the%20only%20city%20in%20the%20United%20States%20to%20reduce%20both%20PM2.5%20and%20NO2%20by%20more%20than%2020%25.%0A%0AOut%20of%20nearly%20100%20cities%20analyzed%20worldwide%2C%20China%20and%20Hong%20Kong%20accounted%20for%20nine%20of%20the%2019%20cities%20achieving%20these%20significant%20pollution%20declines%2C%20while%20European%20cities%20made%20up%20the%20remainder.%0A%0A%3Ch2%3EHow%20cities%20reduced%20air%20pollution%3C%2Fh2%3E%0A%0AThe%20research%2C%20conducted%20across%20members%20of%20the%20C40%20and%20Breathe%20Cities%20networks%2C%20demonstrates%20that%20substantial%20air%20quality%20improvements%20are%20possible%20within%2010%20to%2015%20years%20when%20governments%20implement%20focused%20environmental%20strategies.%0A%0AEffective%20interventions%20included%3A%0A%0A%E2%80%A2%20Rapid%20transition%20from%20gasoline%20and%20diesel%20vehicles%20to%20electric%20cars%20in%20China%0A%0A%E2%80%A2%20Expansion%20of%20protected%20cycle%20lanes%20in%20densely%20populated%20European%20cities%0A%0A%E2%80%A2%20London%E2%80%99s%20low-emission%20and%20vehicle%20restriction%20zones%0A%0A%E2%80%A2%20Warsaw%E2%80%99s%20move%20away%20from%20coal%20and%20wood-burning%20home%20heating%0A%0AWhile%20the%20report%20documented%20major%20improvements%2C%20it%20did%20not%20isolate%20whether%20progress%20was%20driven%20primarily%20by%20local%20policies%20or%20broader%20national%20regulations.%0A%0A%3Ch2%3EWhy%20reducing%20PM2.5%20and%20NO2%20matters%20for%20public%20health%3C%2Fh2%3E%0A%0ABurning%20fossil%20fuels%20releases%20dangerous%20pollutants%2C%20including%20microscopic%20particulate%20matter%20(PM2.5)%20and%20nitrogen%20dioxide%20(NO2)%2C%20both%20of%20which%20pose%20serious%20health%20risks.%0A%0APM2.5%20particles%20are%20small%20enough%20to%20enter%20the%20bloodstream%20and%20circulate%20throughout%20the%20body%2C%20damaging%20vital%20organs%20including%20the%20brain%2C%20heart%2C%20and%20reproductive%20system.%20Nitrogen%20dioxide%20irritates%20the%20airways%2C%20worsens%20asthma%2C%20and%20contributes%20to%20acid%20rain%20formation.%0A%0AHealth%20experts%20emphasize%20that%20there%20is%20no%20completely%20safe%20level%20of%20PM2.5%20exposure%2C%20and%20millions%20of%20premature%20deaths%20worldwide%20are%20linked%20to%20air%20pollution%20each%20year.%0A%0AAir%20pollution%20impacts%20people%20at%20every%20stage%20of%20life%2C%20from%20low%20birth%20weight%20and%20childhood%20asthma%20to%20adult%20heart%20disease%2C%20cancer%2C%20cognitive%20decline%2C%20and%20dementia.%20Beyond%20the%20human%20toll%2C%20polluted%20air%20creates%20economic%20strain%20through%20healthcare%20costs%2C%20lost%20productivity%2C%20and%20long-term%20care%20burdens.%0A%0A%3Ch2%3EA%20turning%20point%20for%20urban%20clean%20air%20policy%3C%2Fh2%3E%0A%0AEnvironmental%20leaders%20say%20the%20findings%20challenge%20the%20widespread%20belief%20that%20urban%20air%20pollution%20is%20too%20complex%20or%20politically%20difficult%20to%20solve.%0A%0AThe%20data%20shows%20that%20bold%2C%20science-based%20environmental%20policies%20can%20reduce%20toxic%20air%20pollution%20by%2020%E2%80%9345%25%20in%20just%20over%20a%20decade%20%E2%80%94%20a%20shift%20once%20thought%20unrealistic.%0A%0ADespite%20this%20progress%2C%20global%20air%20quality%20remains%20a%20serious%20concern.%20Recent%20global%20assessments%20indicate%20that%20only%20a%20handful%20of%20countries%20currently%20meet%20World%20Health%20Organization%20guidelines%20for%20PM2.5%20exposure.%0A%0AHowever%2C%20the%20success%20of%20these%2019%20cities%20demonstrates%20that%20with%20political%20will%2C%20clean%20transportation%2C%20and%20fossil%20fuel%20reduction%20strategies%2C%20meaningful%20air%20quality%20improvements%20are%20achievable.

19 cities cut air pollution up to 45%

New%20Environmental%20Protection%20Agency%20rules%20aim%20to%20crack%20down%20on%20toxic%20air%20pollution%20from%20US%20steelmakers%20by%20limiting%20pollutants%20such%20as%20mercury%2C%20benzene%20and%20lead%20that%20have%20long%20poisoned%20the%20air%20in%20neighborhoods%20surrounding%20the%20plants.%0A%0AThe%20rules%20target%20contaminants%20released%20by%20steel%20facilities%E2%80%99%20coke%20ovens.%20Gas%20from%20the%20ovens%20creates%20an%20individual%20cancer%20risk%20in%20the%20air%20around%20steel%20plants%20of%2050%20in%201%2C000%2C000%2C%20which%20public%20health%20advocates%20say%20is%20dangerous%20for%20children%20and%20people%20with%20underlying%20health%20problems.%0A%0AThe%20chemicals%20do%20not%20travel%20far%20from%20the%20plant%2C%20but%20advocates%20say%20they%20have%20been%20devastating%20for%20public%20health%20in%20%E2%80%9Cfenceline%E2%80%9D%20low%20income%20neighborhoods%20around%20steel%20facilities%2C%20and%20represent%20an%20environmental%20justice%20issue.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CPeople%20have%20long%20faced%20significant%20health%20risks%2C%20like%20cancer%2C%20due%20to%20coke%20oven%20pollution%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20Patrice%20Simms%2C%20Earthjustice%E2%80%99s%20vice-president%20for%20healthy%20communities.%20The%20rules%20are%20%E2%80%9Ccrucial%20for%20safeguarding%20communities%20and%20workers%20near%20coke%20ovens%E2%80%9D.%0A%0ACoke%20ovens%20are%20chambers%20that%20heat%20up%20coal%20to%20produce%20coke%2C%20a%20hard%20deposit%20used%20to%20make%20steel.%20Gas%20produced%20by%20the%20ovens%20is%20classified%20by%20EPA%20as%20a%20known%20human%20carcinogen%20and%20contains%20a%20mix%20of%20hazardous%20chemicals%2C%20heavy%20metals%20and%20volatile%20compounds.%0A%0AMany%20of%20the%20chemicals%20are%20linked%20to%20serious%20health%20issues%2C%20including%20severe%20eczema%2C%20respiratory%20problems%20and%20digestive%20lesions.%0A%0AAmid%20increasing%20evidence%20of%20the%20gas%E2%80%99s%20toxicity%20in%20recent%20years%2C%20the%20EPA%20did%20little%20to%20rein%20in%20the%20pollution%2C%20critics%20say.%20Environmental%20groups%20have%20been%20pushing%20for%20new%20limits%20and%20better%20monitoring%20and%20Earthjustice%20in%202019%20sued%20the%20EPA%20over%20the%20issue.%0A%0ACoke%20ovens%20have%20especially%20plagued%20cities%20in%20upper%20midwest%20industrial%20regions%20and%20Alabama.%20In%20Detroit%2C%20a%20coke%20plant%20that%20for%20a%20decade%20has%20violated%20air%20quality%20standards%20thousands%20of%20times%20is%20at%20the%20center%20of%20continuing%20litigation%20that%20alleges%20sulfur%20dioxide%20produced%20by%20coke%20oven%20gas%20has%20sickened%20nearby%20residents%20in%20a%20predominantly%20Black%20neighborhood%2C%20though%20the%20new%20rules%20do%20not%20cover%20that%20contaminant.%0A%0AThe%20rules%2C%20published%20on%20Friday%2C%20require%20%E2%80%9Cfenceline%E2%80%9D%20testing%20around%20the%20plants%2C%20and%2C%20if%20a%20contaminant%20is%20found%20to%20exceed%20the%20new%20limits%2C%20steel%20makers%20must%20identify%20the%20source%20and%20take%20action%20to%20lower%20the%20levels.%0A%0AThe%20rules%20also%20remove%20loopholes%20industry%20previously%20used%20to%20avoid%20reporting%20emissions%2C%20like%20exempting%20emissions%20limits%20during%20malfunctions.%0A%0ATesting%20outside%20a%20Pittsburgh%20plant%20operated%20by%20US%20Steel%2C%20one%20of%20the%20nation%E2%80%99s%20largest%20producers%2C%20found%20levels%20of%20benzene%2C%20a%20carcinogen%2C%20that%20were%2010%20times%20higher%20than%20the%20new%20limits.%20A%20US%20Steel%20spokesperson%20told%20the%20Allegheny%20Front%20the%20rules%20would%20be%20virtually%20impossible%20to%20implement%20and%20would%20have%20%E2%80%9Cunprecedented%20costs%20and%20potentially%20unintended%20adverse%20environmental%20impacts%E2%80%9D.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CThe%20costs%20would%20be%20unprecedented%20and%20unknown%20because%20there%20are%20no%20proven%20control%20technologies%20for%20certain%20hazardous%20air%20pollutants%2C%E2%80%9D%20the%20spokesperson%20said.%0A%0AAdrienne%20Lee%2C%20an%20Earthjustice%20attorney%2C%20told%20the%20Guardian%20the%20rule%20is%20based%20off%20industry%20data%20provided%20to%20the%20EPA%2C%20and%20she%20noted%20the%20rules%20generally%20will%20not%20reduce%20emissions%2C%20but%20prevent%20exceedances.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CI%20find%20it%20hard%20to%20believe%20%5Bthe%20limits%5D%20will%20be%20difficult%20to%20meet%2C%E2%80%9D%20Lee%20said.

New US rules target toxic air pollution

Only%20seven%20countries%20are%20meeting%20an%20international%20air%20quality%20standard%2C%20with%20deadly%20air%20pollution%20worsening%20in%20places%20due%20to%20a%20rebound%20in%20economic%20activity%20and%20the%20toxic%20impact%20of%20wildfire%20smoke%2C%20a%20new%20report%20has%20found.%0A%0AOf%20134%20countries%20and%20regions%20surveyed%20in%20the%20report%2C%20only%20seven%20%E2%80%93%20Australia%2C%20Estonia%2C%20Finland%2C%20Grenada%2C%20Iceland%2C%20Mauritius%20and%20New%20Zealand%20%E2%80%93%20are%20meeting%20a%20World%20Health%20Organization%20(WHO)%20guideline%20limit%20for%20tiny%20airborne%20particles%20expelled%20by%20cars%2C%20trucks%20and%20industrial%20processes.%0A%0AThe%20vast%20majority%20of%20countries%20are%20failing%20to%20meet%20this%20standard%20for%20PM2.5%2C%20a%20type%20of%20microscopic%20speck%20of%20soot%20less%20than%20the%20width%20of%20a%20human%20hair%20that%20when%20inhaled%20can%20cause%20a%20myriad%20of%20health%20problems%20and%20deaths%2C%20risking%20serious%20implications%20for%20people%2C%20according%20to%20the%20report%20by%20IQAir%2C%20a%20Swiss%20air%20quality%20organization%20that%20draws%20data%20from%20more%20than%2030%2C000%20monitoring%20stations%20around%20the%20world.%0A%0AWhile%20the%20world%E2%80%99s%20air%20is%20generally%20much%20cleaner%20than%20it%20was%20in%20much%20of%20the%20past%20century%2C%20there%20are%20still%20places%20where%20the%20pollution%20levels%20are%20particularly%20dangerous.%20The%20most%20polluted%20country%2C%20Pakistan%2C%20has%20PM2.5%20levels%20more%20than%2014%20times%20higher%20than%20the%20WHO%20standard%2C%20the%20IQAir%20report%20found%2C%20with%20India%2C%20Tajikistan%20and%20Burkina%20Faso%20the%20next%20most%20polluted%20countries.%0A%0ABut%20even%20in%20wealthy%20and%20fast-developing%20countries%2C%20progress%20in%20cutting%20air%20pollution%20is%20under%20threat.%20Canada%2C%20long%20considered%20as%20having%20some%20of%20the%20cleanest%20air%20in%20the%20western%20world%2C%20became%20the%20worst%20for%20PM2.5%20last%20year%20due%20to%20record%20wildfires%20that%20ravaged%20the%20country%2C%20sending%20toxic%20spoke%20spewing%20across%20the%20country%20and%20into%20the%20US.%0A%0AIn%20China%2C%20meanwhile%2C%20improvements%20in%20air%20quality%20were%20complicated%20last%20year%20by%20a%20rebound%20in%20economic%20activity%20in%20the%20wake%20of%20the%20Covid-19%20pandemic%2C%20with%20the%20report%20finding%20a%206.5%25%20increase%20in%20PM2.5%20levels.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CUnfortunately%20things%20have%20gone%20backwards%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20Glory%20Dolphin%20Hammes%2C%20North%20America%20chief%20executive%20of%20IQAir.%20%E2%80%9CThe%20science%20is%20pretty%20clear%20about%20the%20impacts%20of%20air%20pollution%20and%20yet%20we%20are%20so%20accustomed%20to%20having%20a%20background%20level%20of%20pollution%20that%E2%80%99s%20too%20high%20to%20be%20healthy.%20We%20are%20not%20making%20adjustments%20fast%20enough.%E2%80%9D%0A%0AAir%20pollution%20kills%20an%20estimated%207%20million%20people%20a%20year%20worldwide%20%E2%80%93%20more%20than%20Aids%20and%20malaria%20combined%20%E2%80%93%20and%20this%20burden%20is%20most%20heavily%20felt%20in%20developing%20countries%20that%20rely%20upon%20particularly%20dirty%20fuels%20for%20heating%2C%20light%20and%20indoor%20cooking.%0A%0AThe%20most%20polluted%20urban%20area%20in%20the%20world%20last%20year%20was%20Begusarai%20in%20India%2C%20the%20sixth%20annual%20IQAir%20report%20found%2C%20with%20India%20home%20to%20the%20four%20most%20polluted%20cities%20in%20the%20world.%20Much%20of%20the%20developing%20world%2C%20particularly%20countries%20in%20Africa%2C%20lacks%20reliable%20air%20quality%20measurements%2C%20however.%0A%0AThe%20WHO%20lowered%20its%20guideline%20for%20%E2%80%9Csafe%E2%80%9D%20PM2.5%20levels%20in%202021%20to%20five%20micrograms%20per%20cubic%20meter%20and%20by%20this%20measure%20many%20countries%2C%20such%20as%20those%20in%20Europe%20that%20have%20cleaned%20up%20their%20air%20significantly%20in%20the%20past%2020%20years%2C%20fall%20short.%0A%0ABut%20even%20this%20more%20stringent%20guideline%20may%20not%20fully%20capture%20the%20risk%20of%20insidious%20air%20pollution.%20Research%20released%20by%20US%20scientists%20last%20month%20found%20there%20is%20no%20safe%20level%20of%20PM2.5%2C%20with%20even%20the%20smallest%20exposures%20linked%20to%20an%20increase%20in%20hospitalizations%20for%20conditions%20such%20as%20heart%20disease%20and%20asthma.%0A%0AHammes%20said%20that%20countries%20should%20act%20to%20make%20their%20cities%20more%20walkable%20and%20less%20reliant%20upon%20cars%2C%20amend%20forestry%20practices%20to%20help%20curtail%20the%20impact%20of%20wildfire%20smoke%20and%20move%20more%20quickly%20to%20embrace%20clean%20energy%20in%20place%20of%20fossil%20fuels.%20%E2%80%9CWe%20share%20the%20atmospheric%20envelope%20with%20everyone%20else%20in%20the%20world%20and%20we%20need%20to%20make%20sure%20we%20are%20not%20doing%20things%20that%20harm%20those%20elsewhere%2C%E2%80%9D%20she%20said.%0A%0AAidan%20Farrow%2C%20senior%20air%20quality%20scientist%20at%20Greenpeace%20International%2C%20said%20that%20better%20air%20quality%20monitoring%20is%20needed%2C%20too.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CIn%202023%20air%20pollution%20remained%20a%20global%20health%20catastrophe%2C%20IQAir%E2%80%99s%20global%20data%20set%20provides%20an%20important%20reminder%20of%20the%20resulting%20injustices%20and%20the%20need%20to%20implement%20the%20many%20solutions%20that%20exist%20to%20this%20problem%2C%E2%80%9D%20he%20said.

Only seven countries meet who air quality standard

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rn%20Europe%20and%20Italy%20inhaling%20the%20most%20polluted%20substances.%0A%0AMilka%20Sokolovi%C4%87%2C%20the%20director%20general%20of%20the%20European%20Public%20Health%20Alliance%2C%20said%20that%20an%20ambitious%20air%20quality%20directive%20was%20a%20%E2%80%9Ccrucial%E2%80%9D%20component%20for%20tackling%20health%20inequities%20across%20Europe%20and%20%E2%80%9Ca%20piece%20of%20legislation%20that%20ensures%20that%20everyone%20in%20Europe%2C%20especially%20those%20in%20vulnerable%20and%20marginalised%20communities%2C%20breathe%20clean%20air%E2%80%9D.

EU agrees to tighten air quality standards

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Jakarta named world's most polluted city

%20The%20World%20Bank%20has%20approved%20a%2046.1%20million%20euro%20(%2450.8%20million)%20loan%20to%20help%20Bosnia's%20autonomous%20Bosniak-Croat%20Federation%20tackle%20alarming%20air%20pollution%20and%20its%20health%20and%20economic%20consequences%2C%20the%20bank%20said%20on%20Wednesday.%0A%0ABosnia%20and%20its%20capital%20Sarajevo%20in%20particular%20suffer%20from%20notorious%20air%20pollution%2C%20topping%20lists%20of%20the%20world's%20most%20polluted%20cities%20in%20winter%20months%20and%20affecting%20public%20health.%0A%0AThe%20Balkan%20country%20has%20among%20the%20highest%20levels%20of%20fine%20particular%20matter%20(PM2.5)%20pollution%20in%20Europe%2C%20to%20which%20the%20residential%20burning%20of%20solid%20fuel%20and%20the%20transport%20sector%20contribute%20about%2050%25%20and%2020%25%20respectively%2C%20the%20bank%20said.%0A%0AThe%20bank%20said%20it%20aims%20to%20support%20four%20out%20of%2010%20cantons%20in%20the%20federation%20in%20strengthening%20air%20quality%20management%20mechanisms%20and%20institutions%2C%20and%20implementing%20measures%20to%20reduce%20emissions.%0A%0AThe%20support%20will%20be%20coupled%20with%20direct%20investments%20in%20domestic%20heating%20and%20transport%20to%20help%20achieve%20a%20reduction%20of%2019%2C000%20tons%20of%20local%20PM2.5%20emissions%2C%20including%20energy%20efficiency%20measures%20in%20single-family%20households%2C%20expanding%20cycling%20infrastructure%2C%20and%20supporting%20low%20emission%20zones.%0A%0A%22This%20project%20will%20contribute%20to%20the%20well-being%20of%20the%20population%20and%20to%20overall%20environmental%20sustainability%2C%22%20Christopher%20Sheldon%2C%20the%20bank's%20country%20manager%20for%20Bosnia%20and%20Montenegro%2C%20said%20in%20a%20statement.%0A%0A%22The%20clean%20investments%20made%20in%20energy%20and%20transport%20will%20not%20only%20reduce%20air%20pollutant%20emissions%20but%20also%20deliver%20additional%20benefits%20such%20as%20greenhouse%20gas%20emission%20reduction%2C%20energy%20savings%2C%20improved%20living%20conditions%20and%20job%20creation%2C%22%20Sheldon%20added.%0A%0AExposure%20to%20fine%20particulate%20matter%20poses%20serious%20health%20risks%2C%20leading%20to%20respiratory%20infections%2C%20cancer%2C%20cardiovascular%20diseases%20and%20premature%20deaths.%0A%0AThe%20loan%20has%20a%20final%20maturity%20of%2031.5%20years%20including%20a%20grace%20period%20of%20eight%20years.

$50.8 mln to cut air pollution in Bosnian region

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Sustainability news on air