Tag: Particulate Matter

Most people don’t take the consequences of pollution seriously. They don’t understand that not only does it cause harm to the environment, but also to us humans as well. Air pollution, for that matter, causes 4.2 million deaths every year, according to the World Health Organization. This is because almost 91% of the world’s population lives in countries where air quality exceeds the guideline limits set by WHO.

There are several ways, but the key indicator is called “PM 2.5”. The “PM” stands for particulate matter while the” 2.5″ is the 2.5 microns in diameter or smaller. This is one of the most harmful classes of airborne pollutants. According to Lydia Ramsey of Business Insider, PM 2.5 “is especially dangerous because it can get lodged in the lungs and cause long-term health problems like asthma and chronic lung disease.”

WHO recommends that a country should keep its PM 2.5 levels below 10 micrograms per cubic meter. If the levels go above 35 micrograms per cubic meter, this is considered a potential major health problem.

Thus, many countries and cities are looking for green alternatives to prevent further harm to the environment. They are doing their best to have lesser industrial coal production and more solar and wind energy. However, some cities are still reaping the profits from burning coal in factories and to produce energy.

Here is a list of some of the countries with the least air pollution based on their rankings in 2020 on the Pollution Index:

Finland

This country has consistently been one of the countries with the least air pollution. This is because of the environmental protections that it has taken. Finnish authorities have had a strict policy on providing the best public transport. They have invested in their green initiatives, and the positive effects of this decision has led to many citizens having less need to get their own vehicles. Unfortunately, behind the scenes, brand new coal fired power plants are opening up.

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Iceland

Iceland also ranks in the top five countries for having the least PM 2.5 levels. This is because they have wisely been using eco-friendly geothermal energy. This has been powering the country’s heating and electricity.

Sweden

The capital of Sweden, which is Stockholm, is considered the cleanest capital in the world and was named the first European Green Capital in 2010. It has curbed CO2 emissions by a quarter since the 1990s, which means that it is surely deserving of its title. The Swedish authorities also hope to make the country fossil-fuel free by 2040.

Norway

Oslo, the capital of Norway, is the more recent capital that has been crowned the European Green Capital in 2019. It is known as a world leader when it comes to its sustainable public transport system. This is because it runs completely on renewable energy.

Most countries should learn from these places because if we leave things as they are today, more and more people will suffer from air pollution, not to mention that it is taking a substantial toll on the environment.

Most industrious processes used to generate tons of pollution. The countries that claim to have a majority of green power consumption used to be large contributors to global pollution. As we design better technology like wind, solar and water energy, we must consider that countries that are now entering their industrious years will continue to generate lots of pollution. It takes a lot of money and a lot of time to understand the negative effects pollution has.

Countries that are now emitting less pollution should not blame those countries that are growing and producing rapidly for the pollution they emit. Instead we should globally share the green technology that might be expensive, but can replace the processes that produce so much pollution. While it is costly, it is the only way that our ozone layer will be repaired, and the only way for us to minimize global warming.

In the end our demand is what creates a polluted world. We earn more money, and we spend it on air travel, large vehicles, plastic, and whatever else we want. It can be very difficult not to keep that Air Conditioner on because it probably won’t affect us in this life time. Our children’s children are the victims of our crimes on the environment.

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