The United Nations designated the 5th of June as World Environment Day. The celebration of this day provides us with an opportunity to broaden the basis for an enlightened opinion and responsible conduct by individuals, enterprises, and communities in preserving and enhancing the environment.

Since its inception in 1974, the world day has grown to become a global platform for public outreach that is widely celebrated in more than 100 countries—including Qatar.

This year's theme

Each World Environment Day is organised around a theme that focuses attention on a particularly pressing environmental concern. The theme for 2019, “Beat Air Pollution,” is a call to action call to combat this global crisis. Chosen by this year’s host, China, the topic invites us all to consider how we can change our everyday lives to reduce the amount of air pollution we produce and thwart its contribution to global warming and its effects on our own health.

Air pollution level in Qatar

According to one of our articles, air pollution a ‘contamination of air that alters its quality and is, in turn, harmful to human health, and that of animals and plants.’ It also affects everyone around the globe.

As Qatar is among the world’s top producers of petroleum, the burning of fossil fuels is a major cause of pollution alongside incomplete combustion of carbon monoxide emitted from vehicles, and smoke from cars, trucks, airplanes, factories, and industries. The Gulf state is no surprise one of the largest carbon footprints in the world.

Also, according to a 2016 WHO report, air pollution in Qatar vastly exceeds safe limits and is damaging the health of the population, making its air quality one of the poorest in the world.

Qatar’s high level of air pollution has earned it a spot on a new map that highlights the world’s most toxic countries. The most toxic country is blockading neighbour Saudi Arabia, followed by Kuwait and Bahrain.

Qatar's solution to air pollution

Aware of the country’s dismal environmental record, Qatar has been working to invest more in renewable energy sources. In 2016, it has signed onto the Paris Agreement, the first universal action plan to tackle global warming.

Simple tips to fight air pollution

1. Try to reduce your carbon footprint by car-pooling or using public transportation. By reducing the number of cars on the road, the number of gasoline emissions will also decrease.
2. Conserve energy on a daily basis by remembering to switch off the lights, electronic devices, and air conditioning units in your home.
3. Practice the three R’s—Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. It'a something that’s taught in school, but the problem is implementation. How many of us actually follow through?

There’s still time to reverse the negative effects of air pollution for our future generations, so it’s crucial that we all do our share to save our Earth.

Tell us your thoughts on the air we breathe in the comments section below and don’t forget to give us a like or a share—it keeps us going!

Follow us on our social media channels: @ILQlive @ILQlive @ILoveQtr ILoveQatar

Sonkie

Content writer

Start a discussion