Only 13 countries in the world breathe safe air. Three of them are in Europe

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illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Euronews or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: According to the 2025 World Air Quality Report by IQAir, only 13 countries globally meet the World Health Organization's (WHO) safe air quality standards
• This is a decline from 17 percent the previous year, reflecting the worsening global air quality
• Notably, India is home to the world’s most polluted city, while just three European countries, Andorra, Estonia, and Iceland, adhere to the WHO’s PM2.5 limits

🔭 The context: Air pollution, mainly from wildfire smoke, dust storms, and other extreme weather events exacerbated by human activities and climate change, has resulted in poorer air quality across the world
• In Europe, countries like Switzerland and Greece have seen increases in PM2.5 levels due to wildfire smoke and Saharan dust
• Meanwhile, global pollution continues to rise, with more than 90% of countries failing to meet the safe air guidelines

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Poor air quality, especially high levels of PM2.5, directly impacts human health
• These fine particles, which are small enough to enter the lungs and bloodstream, are linked to respiratory problems, cardiovascular diseases, and long-term illnesses such as cancer
• With increasing pollution levels, addressing air quality becomes a pressing issue for public health and climate resilience

⏭️ What’s next: The growing recognition of the link between climate change and air quality is prompting more governments and organizations to invest in monitoring systems and policies to curb emissions

💬 One quote: “Without monitoring, we cannot fully understand what’s in the air we breathe.” – Frank Hammes, IQAir Global CEO

📈 One stat: Only 14% of cities globally breathe safe air, marking a significant decline from 17% last year.

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