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Global air pollution declined by 31% during the initial COVID-19 lockdowns, demonstrating a link between economic activity and air quality.

As Visual Capitalist’s Jenna Ross details below, this graphic from The Hinrich Foundation, the fourth in a five-part series on the sustainability of trade, explores how air pollution varies by economy. It pulls data from the 2022 Sustainable Trade Index, which The Hinrich Foundation produced in collaboration with the IMD World Competitiveness Center.

What is Air Pollution?

In this dataset, air pollution is measured using fine particulate matter known as PM2.5. These particles are less than 2.5 microns in diameter, which is about 28 times smaller than the diameter of human hair. They are made up of things like combustion particles, compounds, and metals.

Not only does their presence cause the air to become hazy, they also pose the greatest health risk compared with any other pollutant. When they are inhaled into the lungs, they can cause respiratory diseases and even death. In fact, air pollution is one of the world’s leading risk factors for death, and is linked to 12% of deaths globally. 

A Geographic Breakdown of Pollution

Air pollution levels have a wide spectrum around the world. Countries with lower GDP per capita tend to have higher pollution because they have less stringent air quality regulations, congested transportation systems, and rapidly developing industrial sectors. They also prioritize basic necessities such as food and shelter. On the other hand, high income economies can afford cleanup technologies such as filters that trap airborne particles. 

The following table shows how air pollution breaks down for select economies that are covered in the 2022 Sustainable Trade Index. Numbers indicate micrograms of PM2.5 particles per cubic meter, with higher numbers indicating more pollution.

Rank Economy PM2.5 per Cubic Meter Income Level of Economy
1 🇳🇿 New Zealand 6 High
2 🇦🇺 Australia 7 High
3 🇨🇦 Canada 7 High
4 🇺🇸 United States 8 High
5 🇧🇳 Brunei 8 High
6 🇬🇧 United Kingdom 10 High
7 🇷🇺 Russia 12 Medium
8 🇯🇵 Japan 14 High
9 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea 16 Low
10 🇹🇼 Taiwan 16 High
11 🇲🇾 Malaysia 17 Medium
12 🇵🇭 Philippines 19 Medium
13 🇭🇰 Hong Kong 19 High
14 🇸🇬 Singapore 19 High
15 🇮🇩 Indonesia 20 Medium
16 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka 20 Medium
17 🇲🇽 Mexico 20 Medium
18 🇻🇳 Vietnam 20 Medium
19 🇪🇨 Ecuador 21 Medium
20 🇱🇦 Laos 21 Low
21 🇰🇭 Cambodia 22 Low
22 🇨🇱 Chile 24 Medium
23 🇹🇭 Thailand 27 Medium
24 🇰🇷 South Korea 27 High
25 🇲🇲 Myanmar 30 Low
26 🇵🇪 Peru 31 Medium
27 🇨🇳 China 48 Medium
28 🇧🇩 Bangladesh 64 Low
29 🇵🇰 Pakistan 64 Low
30 🇮🇳 India 83 Low

India has the most polluted air of the economies in the Sustainable Trade Index. As a developing country with a large population, there are multiple contributing factors. For instance, agricultural burning, biomass combustion for cooking, and vehicle emissions all worsen the problem. The country is also the second-largest consumer of coal, and lacks tight emission standards on industries such as metal smelters and oil refineries.

The Philippines has low air pollution relative to its GDP per capita. This could be because 34% of its energy comes from renewable sources. Notably, the Philippines has the third-highest geothermal power capacity in the world. However, the country still faces considerable pollution issues, primarily due to vehicle emissions.

Want more insights into trade sustainability?

Download the 2022 Sustainable Trade Index for free.

New Zealand has the least polluted air of the economies in the index. Its good air quality is thanks in part to its low population density and island geography. The country is also impacted by large scale wind patterns which promote westerly winds and aid in pollutant dispersion. In order to further reduce pollutants, New Zealand is requiring vehicles to meet stricter emission standards.

Economic Activity and Air Pollution

Air pollution has severe consequences for the environment and human health. It is worsened by aggressive industrialization and some commercial activities. In fact, it’s estimated that industry accounts for 12% of PM2.5 particles globally. Industrial dust, energy production, and transportation are also significant contributors.

Of course, air pollution is just one variable that can help determine an economy’s trade sustainability. The Sustainable Trade Index uses a number of other metrics to measure economies’ ability to trade in a way that balances economic growth, societal development, and environmental protection. To learn more, visit the STI landing page where you can download the report for free.

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