Top 10 polluters. However, most of this pollution comes from just a few countries: China, for example, generates around 30% of all global emissions, while the United States is responsible for almost 14%.
Who are the most polluting countries in the world? The three countries with the highest carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are, unsurprisingly, the three most industrialised countries in the world: China, the United States, and India.
Most polluted countries based on PM2. 5 concentration globally 2022. Chad had an average PM2. 5 concentration of nearly 90 micrograms per cubic meter of air (µg/m3) in 2022, becoming the most polluted country in the world.
The immense urban growth of Chinese cities substantially increases the need for consumer goods, vehicles and energy. This in turn increases the burning of fossil fuels, resulting in smog. Exposure to Smog poses a threat to the health of Chinese citizens.
The cleanest country in the world is Denmark as per the Environmental Performance Index (EPI). Its EPI value is at 82.5.
The most polluted city in the world is Kashgar, China. From the top 10 most polluted cities in the world, 7 most polluted cities are in India.
In Asia, China ranks the fifth worst for pollution, South Korea (hereafter Korea) eighth, and Japan last (14th) [1]. Many health impacts from environmental pollution have been reported.
Over the past decade, China's once-pollution-choked skies have steadily improved, according to more than two decades of atmospheric measurements taken by NASA satellites. But researchers say that there is still a long way to go to clean China's air and protect the health of its citizens.
China emits 27 percent of global carbon dioxide and a third of the world's greenhouse gases. This transition will require a massive shift in resources, innovation, and new technologies to enhance energy efficiency and resource productivity.
In 2020, India had 46 of the world's 100 most polluted cities, followed by China (42), Pakistan (6), Bangladesh (4), Indonesia (1), and Thailand (1), according to air quality tracker IQAir.
Major Air Pollutants in China
The current PM2. 5 concentration in China is 1.1 times above the recommended limit given by the WHO 24 hrs air quality guidelines value.
The GPCI evaluates cities based on six main categories: economy, research and development, cultural interaction, liveability, environment, and accessibility. Dubai has been named the cleanest city in the world for the third time in a row.
Greenhouse gas emissions by China are the largest of any country in the world both in production and consumption terms, and stem mainly from coal burning in China, including coal-fired power stations, coal mining, and blast furnaces producing iron and steel.
Recent data from Oxfam shows that the wealthiest 1 per cent of humanity, are responsible for twice as many emissions as the poorest 50 per cent and that by 2030, their carbon footprints are set to be 30 times greater than the level compatible with the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement.
Australia is ranked among some of cleanest countries in the world for air quality, according to the Air Quality Index.
Australia air quality is generally among some of the cleanest in the world, although the country is vulnerable to short-term extreme pollution spikes which occur due to bushfires and dust storms.
Australia topped the list as the least polluted country in the world, with 7 cities in the top 25. Of the 25 least polluted cities in the world with the best air quality, Nordic countries (Finland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Estonia) dominated the rankings with some of the cleanest air in the world in 2022.