Although air pollution is a global concern, it doesn’t affect all countries the same way. One globally accepted metric for measuring this issue is the Air Quality Index (AQI). Today, some countries consistently maintain low AQI scores, indicating cleaner air. Others, however, struggle with high AQI scores. This begs the question; what factors cause wide variation in air quality index scores from country to country?
1. Industrialization
Industrialization is one primary reason why countries see variations in their AQI scores. It’s simple; nations with high industrial growth often experience higher AQI scores. This happens because of the air-poisoning emissions that come from factories, power plants, and vehicles.
Countries like China are developed today but still battle with high AQI scores in some of their areas. This is possible because of the country’s heavy dependence on coal-burning power plants.
The Scandinavian countries are developed but still manage to maintain low AQI scores. This is possible because of their strict environmental regulations. These countries also invest heavily in the use of cleaner energy sources.
2. Vehicle emissions
Vehicle emissions are a big concern in countries with high vehicle usage. These emissions also contribute to why these nations experience higher air quality index scores. This is especially true if the countries fail to have strict emission regulations in place.
Countries with efficient public transportation systems have better air quality. Today, Japan’s AQI is considered moderate. This is possible partially because of the nation’s advanced public transport network.
3. Climate
Climate is a natural factor that also causes variation in AQI levels from country to country. It’s simple; nations with dense forests and coastal breezes tend to experience reduced pollution levels. This is possible because of their natural ventilation, which comes with the dense forests. These natural variations help disperse pollutants. A good country that falls under this category is Canada.
Bottom line: low population density and dense forests are a few reasons some countries have better AQI scores than others.
4. Government policies
Government policies have direct impacts on a nation’s AQI score. Having stricter emission standards can attract low air quality index scores. The same thing applies if the country invests heavily in clean energy solutions. Having proactive pollution control measures in place also helps to lower a nation’s AQI score.
Today, Singapore has strict industrial regulations. Besides, the country offers green building initiatives and urban fore-station projects. All these offerings contribute to why the country still maintains lower AQI scores than others.
Wrapping up
The Air Quality Index varies across countries due to many factors. A country with stricter emission standards and policies is like to experience lower air quality index scores than others. The combination of other factors like industrial activity, vehicle emissions, and climate also has a significant impact on a country’s overall AQI score.
What exactly is your country’s current AQI score? How does your country’s pollution level compare to other countries? You can take advantage of the World Scorecard’s Country Comparison tool to find answers to these questions.
