Air Pollution Getting Worse In Urban Areas, Says UN

In the years 2008 to 2013, air pollution levels in urban areas increased by eight percent. New studies show that rates are not going down anytime soon.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) there is a need to support introduction of more renewable energies and cleaner cook stoves -- actions that are necessary in combating this health emergency.

The World Health Organization noted that more than 80 percent of people in urban areas have been exposed to air quality levels that exceed the limits set forth by the organization.

In places like Nairobi, Kenya, a growing number of change is ongoing to improve access to better air quality, such as improved access to cleaner cooking fuels, renewable energy, and fuel sulphur content However, the actions undertaken are not enough to halt the increase of air pollution.

Jacqueline McGlade, the chief scientist at UNEP said that the root causes of these issues boil down to two major systemic occurences: a changing climate, and an intense trend to greater urbanization. As explained by The Washington Post, these things threaten ecosystems and the humans who depend on them for food, water, and other services.

Policies and standards on clean fuels and vehicles could lessen the polluted air emissions by 90 percent -- if properly implemented. Unfortunately, only 29 percent of countries worldwide adapted these proper emissions standards, and less than 20 percent of countries regulate open waste burning -- a leading cause of air pollution.

Not all is bad, though: 97 percent of countries have put it unto themselves to give households access to cleaner burning fuels, which is an important move in tackling indoor air pollution -- a problem that few address, but claims millions of lives as well.

McGlade noted that the increasing problems need better response as policymakers are simply falling behind in the implementation of programs. She shared, "we have been treating just the symptoms. These reports show that the time has come that we now have to tackle the root causes.”