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AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT EXCHANGE PLATFORM

12th September, 2024

Source: UNEP

Disclaimer: Copyright infringement not intended.

Context

The Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC)launched the Air Quality Management Exchange Platform (AQMx) .

About AQMx

AQM is a platform that aims to guide national and city-level air quality managers in meeting the World Health Organization (WHO) Air Quality Guidelinesand interim targets. 

WHO Air Quality Guidelines

 Recommended 2021 AQG levels compared to 2005 air quality guidelines

Further Reading on WHO Guidelines:

 https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/what-are-the-who-air-quality-guidelines

Key Features of AQMx

One-Stop-Shop for Air Quality Management

  • The AQMx platform is designed as a comprehensive resource for air quality professionals.
  • It offers the latest tools and guidance to tackle air pollution.
  • Its objective is to bridge capacity gaps, especially in regions with limited access to air quality data.

Support for WHO Air Quality Guidelines

AQMx provides guidance across key themes such as:

  • Air quality monitoring
  • Inventory development
  • Health impact assessments

Expanding Regional Cooperation

The platform will expand to support regional and sub-regional communities (knowledge exchange, and best practices in air quality management).

Need for the platform

  • Air pollution presents a global health and environment emergency.
  • It is responsible for more than 8 million premature deaths annually.
  • It affects the most vulnerable populations who live in the poorest parts of the world.
  • 99% of the world's population breathes polluted air.
  • AQMx is focused on facilitation in increasing collaboration across administrative boundaries and sectors.

About the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC)

  • It was founded in 2012.
  • The CCAC is a UNEP-convened partnership of more than 182 governments and organizations.
  • They work to cut Short-Lived Climate Pollutants-methane, black carbon, HFCs, and tropospheric ozone.
  • They are the most important contributors to anthropogenic global warming after carbon dioxide, responsible for up to 45% of current global warming.
  • The coalition connects scientific analysis with targeted mitigation measures across countries and sectors.

SLCPs vs LCPs 

Criteria

Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs)

Long-Lived Climate Pollutants (LCPs)

Definition

Pollutants that remain in the atmosphere for a short duration (days to decades).

Pollutants that persist in the atmosphere for long periods (hundreds to thousands of years).

Examples

Methane (CH₄), black carbon, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), tropospheric ozone.

Carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrous oxide (N₂O), chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

Impact on Climate

Causes significant short-term warming; immediate impact on climate and air quality.

Long-term drivers of global warming; their effects last for centuries.

Importance

Immediate action on SLCPs helps in near-term climate and public health improvements.

Crucial for limiting long-term temperature rise and maintaining ecosystem balance.

About the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)

  • The UNEP is the leading global voice on issues relating to the environment.
  • It advocates for sustainable lifestyles and practices along with partnerships that protect the quality of life without hurting the interest of future generations.
  • Established in 1972 by the United Nations General Assembly in response to the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment.
  • UNEP is a member of the United Nations Development Group.
  • Headquarters: Nairobi, Kenya.
  • Name of Reports published by UNEP
  • Actions on Air Quality
  • Emissions Gap Report
  • Adaptation Gap Report
  • The Rise of Environmental Crime

Read about air pollution:

https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/air-pollution-india#:~:text=AQI%20is%20a%20tool%20for,Poor%2C%20Severe%2C%20and%20Hazardous.

Read about AQI:

https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/air-quality-index

Sources:

UNEP

PRACTICE QUESTION

 Q: In the context of WHO Air Quality Guidelines, consider the following statements:

  1. The 24-hour mean of PM2.5 should not exceed 15 µg/m³, and the annual mean of PM2.5 should not exceed 5 µg/m³.
  2. Ozone pollution peaks during periods of inclement weather.
  3. PM10 can penetrate the lung barrier and enter the bloodstream.
  4. Excessive ozone in the air can trigger asthma.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

a) 1, 3, and 4 only
b) 1 and 4 only
c) 2, 3, and 4 only
d) 1 and 2 only

Answer: b

Explanation:

1st statement is correct: According to WHO Air Quality Guidelines, the annual average concentration of PM2.5 should not exceed 5 µg/m³, and the 24-hour average should not exceed 15 µg/m³ on more than 3–4 days per year. 

2nd statement is incorrect: Ozone pollution is generally more prevalent during hot, sunny weather rather than during periods of inclement weather. Humidity and thunderstorms can actually help reduce ozone levels by blocking sunlight and destroying formed ozone. 

3rd statement is incorrect: PM10 particles can enter the lungs but do not pass into the bloodstream. PM2.5, being smaller, can reach the alveoli and enter the bloodstream, potentially affecting various organs.

4th statement is correct: Excessive ozone can irritate the lungs and airways, triggering conditions like asthma.

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