Useful information for the report development:

Websites:https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/11-countries-leading-the-charge-on-

renewable-energy/

The countries leading the renewal energies/good things:

GERMANY

Germany is a world leader in renewable energy and in the first half of 2018 it

produced enough electricity to power every household in the country for a year.

The country has also set an ambitious target to get 65% of their electricity from

renewables by 2030. For a relatively cloudy country of over 80 million people,

Germany is looking forward to a seriously bright future with solar energy!

COSTA RICA

Thanks to its unique geography and commitment to the environment, small but

mighty Costa Rica has produced 95% of its electricity from hydro, geothermal,

solar and wind over the past four years. Next on the horizon: Costa Rica aims to be

entirely carbon-neutral by 2021.

SWEDEN

In 2015, Sweden threw down the gauntlet with an ambitious goal: to eliminate fossil

fuels from electricity generation by 2040 within its borders, and has ramped up

investment in solar, wind, energy storage, smart grids, and clean transport. And the

best part? The Swedes are challenging everyone else to join them in a race to

become the first 100% renewable country. Now that’s a competition where

everyone wins!

Bad things:

1. Bangladesh
Bangladesh is now the most polluted country with 1st rank and an average

concentration of PM 2.5 of 79ug/m3. The country is home to over 166 million

people. This population is a strain on the available resources, such as air. For this

reason, there is a lot of pollution from industries and human activities. Also, there

are three cities from Bangladesh that appear among the top most polluted cities.

The life expectancy is 70 for both genders.

2. Pakistan

Pakistan has an average concentration of PM 2.5 of 101ug/m3 holding 2nd

position in the world. The country, with a population of 200.8 million, is among the

most populated countries in the world. The outdoor air in Pakistan is of the worst

quality. Also, the country leads in air pollution.

The country’s life expectancy is quite low, with an average of 64 for males and 66

for females. There are various cities that make it to the top ten lists of the dirtiest

cities. Three of them are from Pakistan, making the country the most polluted.

Consequently, there has been an increase in the respiratory diseases caused by

the polluted air.

3. Mongolia

This is a small country, just like Qatar, but with a very low GDP (PPP) per capita.

Although their populations are almost similar, the GDP (PPP) per capita of

Mongolia is at $5,371, while that of Qatar is at $96,903.

With an average concentration of PM 2.5 of 64ug/m3, it is the 3rd most polluted

country in the world. This is attributed to the burning of coal that is done regularly

to overcome the cold weather. These carbon emissions go a long way to polluting
the air. The practice has since lowered life expectancy, which is at 68 years for

both males.

4. Afghanistan

It has an average concentration of PM 2.5 of 84 ug /mg3, making it the fourth most

polluted country in the world. In comparison with Qatar, it has a very low GDP

(PPP) per capita but a high population.

The life expectancy is quite low at 60 years for both genders. The low expectancy

is owed to the fact that there is a lot of pollution in the atmosphere. This is caused

by the burning of rubber and plastics. Also, the constant driving to work increases

carbon emissions to the air.

5. India

India is on 5th position. The average concentration of PM 2.5 in India is 59ug/m3.

This is the second biggest country in terms of population with a population of over

one billion, just behind China. The GDP (PPP) per capita of the country is a bit low

($5,777) owing to the large population.

The large population is the source of the problem because it puts a strain on the

use of resources. The pressure on industries, water sources, and food companies

warrants for more industrial activities, which leads to more releases of waste

products into the environment as well as rivers such as Ganges.

6. Indonesia

 Indonesia is on 6thposition. The average Indonesian can expect to lose 1.2 years

of life expectancy at current pollution levels, according to the Air Quality Life Index
(AQLI), because air quality fails to meet the World Health Organization (WHO)

guideline for concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5).

The pollution index, developed by Michael Greenstone and his colleagues at the

Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC), shows that the health

effects are much larger in parts of the country with particularly high particulate

pollution. Residents of Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, for example, can expect to lose

2.3 years of life expectancy if 2016 pollution levels are sustained over their lifetime.

7. Bahrain

This is a small country with a meager population of 1.3 million, the lowest in this

group. It is the 7th most polluted country with an average concentration of PM 2.5

of 57ug/m3. It may be a small country, but it has a powerful GDP (PPP) per capita

of $28,559. The country is highly oriented towards massive industrialization.

Consequently, there are very high carbon emissions and energy loss to the

atmosphere, which causes air pollution.

Owing to the powerful GDP (PPP) per capita and a manageable population, the

country has great health facilities, which have boosted the life expectancy to 76 for

females and 73 for males.

8. Nepal

With an average concentration of PM 2.5 of 51ug/m3, Nepal makes it to number 8

on this list. With an approximate population of 29 million, it is fairly a small country.

The country, which is closest to the Himalaya, is feared to negate the glaciers or

the beauty of the Himalayas due to increased levels of air pollution.

The pollution has led to respiratory diseases. Car emissions have also intensified

with the increased use of outdated vehicles.

9. Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan ranked as the 9th most polluted country in the world in 2019 with 41.20

score, with the air in 2019 was classified as “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”

However, in Live Air Quality City Ranking, Tashkent on 63 score with the air was

classified as “moderate.”

10. Iraq

In accordance with the World Health Organization’s guidelines, the air quality in

Iraq is considered unsafe. The most recent data indicates the country’s annual

mean concentration of PM2.5 is 62 µg/m3, which exceeds the recommended

maximum of 10 µg/m3.

Iraq ranked as the 10th most polluted country in the world in 2019 with 39.60

score, with the air in 2019 was classified as “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”

However, in Live Air Quality City Ranking, Baghdad having consistently high levels

of air pollution on 88 score with the air was classified as “moderate.”

Context of Colombia:

Las alarmas están encendidas en Colombia. La contaminación del aire que se

registra en las grandes ciudades del país es una latente problemática que parece

ir en aumento.

De acuerdo a la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS), Colombia es el segundo

país de Latinoamérica con más contaminación del aire, con un promedio de

19.000 muertes anuales en todo el territorio. Bogotá, la capital, registra un valor de

15 PM2.5 de exposición (cantidad de esmog que produce).  

La contaminación del aire que está en el medio ambiente es producida por

diferentes factores que afectan la capa atmosférica, incrementando la gran

variedad de fuentes contaminantes que modifican la capa natural y todos los

componentes que están en ella.

El Gobierno puso en marcha una acción encaminada a atacar, en los parques

naturales, a los ilegales que ejecuten acciones como siembra de cultivos ilícitos y

minería ilegal, las cuales promueven la deforestación.

En los últimos años, Colombia ha perdido más de 200.000 hectáreas por cuenta

de la deforestación.

 el pasado 16 de abril con un operativo que permitió la recuperación de 120

hectáreas de bosque del Parque Nacional Natural Chiribiquete y el resguardo

Llanos del Yarí, donde, además, fueron capturadas 10 personas y se incautaron

vehículos, armas y maquinaria.

“Restaurar las 120 hectáreas que estamos recuperando puede remover

22.000 toneladas de CO2 de la atmósfera en 8 años. Esto equivale a lo que

emiten 240.000 carros en el viaje Medellín–Bogotá–Medellín”