The Kabul Tribune (KT) — The United Nations has warned that air pollution remains one of the world’s most serious global crises, claiming the lives of millions of people every year.
According to the UN, air pollution caused more than 8.1 million premature deaths worldwide in 2021, accounting for more than one-eighth of total global deaths. Of that number, more than 700,000 victims were children under the age of five.
Stephen Stone, deputy director of the Industry and Economy Division at the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), said clean air is essential for human life and well-being.
“Just as athletes need clean air to move and perform better, all people depend on clean air to live healthy lives and to thrive,” Stone said.
UN experts say air pollution occurs mainly in two forms: indoor and outdoor pollution. Burning wood, coal, and animal dung inside homes is among the leading causes of indoor air pollution, while vehicles, factories, and forest fires are major sources of outdoor air pollution.
Experts add that the most dangerous air pollutants include particulate matter such as PM10 and PM2.5, carbon monoxide, ground-level ozone, and nitrogen and sulfur dioxide.
Air pollution not only threatens human health — contributing to heart and lung diseases, stroke, lung cancer, and even fetal death — but also disrupts daily and athletic activities and worsens the climate crisis, the UN said.
The United Nations stressed that tackling air pollution requires international cooperation, stricter regulations on pollutants, stronger monitoring systems, and broad public participation.
The world will observe World Clean Air Day for Blue Skies on Sept. 7. This year’s theme, “Race for Clean Air,” underscores the urgency of taking immediate action to combat air pollution.
