Markets

Insider Trading

Hedge Funds

Retirement

Opinion

30 Most Air Polluted Cities In The World

In this article, we look at the 30 most air polluted cities in the world. You can skip our detailed analysis on companies that are taking measures to combat pollution and head over directly to the 10 Most Air Polluted Cities In The World.

A report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) in March 2023 highlighted that global carbon emissions reached an all-time high of 36.8 Gt in 2022 – having increased 0.9% compared to the previous year. Vehicle emissions, smoke from manufacturing in factories, chemical production, coal power plants, and the use of natural gas to provide heating at homes are the primary sources of pollution and trigger global warming, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

A study by Climate Central in September last year found that 98% of the world’s population was exposed to global warming and experienced hotter temperatures between June and September 2023 due to carbon dioxide pollution.

Several notable corporations have committed themselves to tackling air pollutants over the last few years. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) has been scaling investments in carbon removal technologies (CDR). In May last year, the company announced that it had signed two separate agreements worth over $200 million with Climeworks and CO280 Solutions, Inc. to purchase CDRs, which JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) expects to remove and store 800,000 metric tons of carbon from the atmosphere.

The investment is part of the company’s sustainable development targets announced in 2021, which includes spending up to $2.5 trillion by 2030 to address climate change, and $1 trillion for green initiatives. These measures have received acclaim from JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM)’s investors. ClearBridge Sustainability Leaders Strategy made the following comment in its Q3 2023 investor letter:

In addition to business models that support biodiversity, it is also important to provide financing for efforts to improve biodiversity. Large financial firms such as ClearBridge holding JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) have a key role here through green bond underwritings that support natural capital protection. In 2021 JPM announced a target to finance and facilitate $1 trillion toward green initiatives by 2030 as part of its broader $2.5 trillion sustainable development target. The green initiatives include biodiversity-linked areas such as water management, circular economy and waste management, in addition to conservation and biodiversity, which focuses on improving terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity ecosystems or forests.

As part of this target, in 2022 JPM served as the lead underwriter for a $350 million green bond issued by The Nature Conservancy, the largest green bond issuance by a conservation nonprofit ever. The issuance is expected to help The Nature Conservancy avoid or sequester 3 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), and conserve 650 million hectares of healthy land, 30 million hectares of freshwater and 4 billion hectares of oceans.

Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) has also announced investments in direct air capture (DAC) technology to clean the atmosphere from emissions. In September 2023, the company said it was going to purchase 250,000 tonnes of removal credits from 1PointFive over a period of 10 years, which is about the same amount of carbon that is stored across at least 290,000 acres of forest land across the United States. The move is part of Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN)’s goal of net zero emissions by 2040. According to a report in Reuters, carbon removal credits per metric tonne can cost in the range of mid-to-high-triple digits.

In addition to this, Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) is also making an investment in CarbonCapture, another prominent climate technology company that is known for its DAC systems. The financial aspects of the deal are not known. In return, CarbonCapture will be providing Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) 100,000 tonnes of removal credits, which the company plans on making available for its partner, customers, and suppliers as well along with its own business units.

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) also announced in 2020 to purchase sustainable aviation fuel credits from SkyNRG and supply them to Alaska Airlines to operate flights between Seattle – 15 miles from Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)’s head office in Redmond – and San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Jose. The reasoning behind the company’s decision is the hope that this would help in reducing pollution caused by commercial flights taken by its employees. A year earlier, the company’s fact sheet showed that travel made up 3% of all carbon emissions made by Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) in 2019.

Jorg Hackemann/Shutterstock.com

Methodology

The 30 most air polluted cities in the world are ranked in ascending order of their Air Quality Index (AQI) scores based on live-time data being updated on IQAir. The list was created on January 29, 2024 at 20:00 GMT.

AQI scores come in six categories – 0-50 (Good), 51-100 (Moderate), 101-150 (Unhealthy for sensitive groups), 151-200 (Unhealthy), 201-300 (Very unhealthy), and 301+ (Hazardous).

If interested, you can also take a look at the 30 Most Air Polluted Countries in the World.

By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a similar consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.

Let’s now head over to the list of the most polluted cities in the world for air quality.

30. Incheon, South Korea

AQI US: 117

Incheon is one of the most polluted cities in the world in terms of air quality, with a PM2.5 concentration of 43 µg/m³ – 8.6 times higher than WHO guidelines.

29. Shenzhen, China

AQI US: 117

The air quality in Shenzhen is unhealthy for sensitive groups, according to IQAir. Health experts advise people in the city to reduce outdoor activities or wear a mask when outside.

28. Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR

AQI US: 118

Hong Kong is among the most air polluted cities in the world, with a high concentration of air pollutants in the atmosphere. Its PM2.5 concentration is 40.8µg/m³ with a PM10 of 51.4µg/m³.

27. Guangzhou, China

AQI US: 119

Guangzhou had an AQI of 149 around the end of 2020. Over the last few years, the city has taken strides in improving air quality, but still much needs to be done. Guangzhou is home to over 25 million with large economic activity which triggers pollution.

26. Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

AQI US: 129

Cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina are plagued with air pollution due to the country’s dependency on coal for internal heating and electricity generation. Its capital, Sarajevo, is one of the most air polluted cities in the world.

25. Hanoi, Vietnam

AQI US: 133

Hanoi’s air quality fluctuates between 101-200 on a regular basis, from being unhealthy for sensitive groups to unhealthy for everyone. According to IQAir, 500 tonnes of charcoal and 700 tonnes of waste are burnt every day in the Vietnamese capital which is a primary source of the pollution there.

24. Kraków, Poland

AQI US: 135

Kraków is among the most polluted cities in Europe. The Polish government has been actively working to improve air quality by delivering financial assistance to citizens to change their home heating systems, but a lot of more work still needs to be done.

23. Karachi, Pakistan

AQI US: 137

Transport and industrial emissions are the major causes of pollution in Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi. On December 4, it was ranked as the most polluted city in the world by IQAir with the AQI recorded at 244.

22. Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

AQI US: 145

Ulaanbaatar is among the most air polluted cities in the world, with a PM2.5 concentration of 55.9µg/m³. According to IQAir, air quality in this Mongolian city has been hovering around the same dangerous levels since 2018.

21. Bangkok, Thailand

AQI US: 153

The air quality in Bangkok is deemed unhealthy for all people present there, due an AQI score in excess of 150. The city has a PM2.5 concentration of 53.5µg/m³ – which is more than 10 times higher than WHO’s guidelines.

20. Kaohsiung, Taiwan

AQI US: 153

Kaohsiung is one of the most polluted cities in the world for air quality. To combat the challenge, Taiwan’s government in 2019 announced to replace all coal power plants at the Hsinta Power Plant in Kaohsiung with natural gas-powered units by 2025. 

19. Belgrade, Serbia

AQI US: 155

Belgrade in Serbia is home to five of the fifteen most polluted districts in Europe, according to a report in The Guardian. Coal plants and emissions from old vehicles are the primary sources of air pollution in the city.

18. Kathmandu, Nepal

AQI US: 155

The air quality in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu is unhealthy for all residents living in the city, with an AQI score of 155 and a PM2.5 concentration of 71.2µg/m³ – 14 times higher than WHO’s standards.

17. Chongqing, China

AQI US: 156

Chongqing, located in southwestern China, is among the most air-polluted cities in the world, with a PM2.5 concentration of 65µg/m³ and PM10 concentration of 102µg/m³ according to IQAir.

16. Beijing, China

AQI US: 157

Next on the list is China’s capital, Beijing, where air pollution is primarily caused by the use of coal to produce electricity, and emissions from manufacturing at factories and old vehicles.

15. Baghdad, Iraq

AQI US: 159

Military conflicts in Iraq are one of the reasons for air pollution in Baghdad. With wars destroying much of the country’s energy infrastructure, 30% of its electricity now comes from private diesel generators.

14. Chengdu, China

AQI US: 161

The air pollution levels in Chengdu are unhealthy for people of all age groups, according to IQAir. PM2.5 is the main air pollutant in this Chinese city and its concentration is 19 times higher than WHO’s air quality guidelines.

13. Wuhan, China

AQI US: 163

Another Chinese city on the list is Wuhan, where air pollution is continuously deteriorating, despite government measures to control carbon emissions. The city has a PM2.5 concentration of 75µg/m³ and PM10 concentration of 86µg/m³.

12. Hangzhou, China

AQI US: 163

Hangzhou is one of the most air polluted cities in the world due to a large population of over 10.6 million people who commute daily for work, resulting in increased carbon emissions.

11. Kabul, Afghanistan

AQI US: 166

Kabul’s air quality is unhealthy, according to IQAir. The primary reasons behind air pollution in Afghanistan’s capital is poor fuel quality, old cars, burning of trash in public, industrial brick kilns, and no check on carbon emissions from factories.

Click to continue reading and see the 10 Most Air Polluted Cities in the World.

Suggested Articles:

Disclosure: None. 30 Most Air Polluted Cities In The World is originally published on Insider Monkey.

AI Fire Sale: Insider Monkey’s #1 AI Stock Pick Is On A Steep Discount

Artificial intelligence is the greatest investment opportunity of our lifetime. The time to invest in groundbreaking AI is now, and this stock is a steal!

The whispers are turning into roars.

Artificial intelligence isn’t science fiction anymore.

It’s the revolution reshaping every industry on the planet.

From driverless cars to medical breakthroughs, AI is on the cusp of a global explosion, and savvy investors stand to reap the rewards.

Here’s why this is the prime moment to jump on the AI bandwagon:

Exponential Growth on the Horizon: Forget linear growth – AI is poised for a hockey stick trajectory.

Imagine every sector, from healthcare to finance, infused with superhuman intelligence.

We’re talking disease prediction, hyper-personalized marketing, and automated logistics that streamline everything.

This isn’t a maybe – it’s an inevitability.

Early investors will be the ones positioned to ride the wave of this technological tsunami.

Ground Floor Opportunity: Remember the early days of the internet?

Those who saw the potential of tech giants back then are sitting pretty today.

AI is at a similar inflection point.

We’re not talking about established players – we’re talking about nimble startups with groundbreaking ideas and the potential to become the next Google or Amazon.

This is your chance to get in before the rockets take off!

Disruption is the New Name of the Game: Let’s face it, complacency breeds stagnation.

AI is the ultimate disruptor, and it’s shaking the foundations of traditional industries.

The companies that embrace AI will thrive, while the dinosaurs clinging to outdated methods will be left in the dust.

As an investor, you want to be on the side of the winners, and AI is the winning ticket.

The Talent Pool is Overflowing: The world’s brightest minds are flocking to AI.

From computer scientists to mathematicians, the next generation of innovators is pouring its energy into this field.

This influx of talent guarantees a constant stream of groundbreaking ideas and rapid advancements.

By investing in AI, you’re essentially backing the future.

The future is powered by artificial intelligence, and the time to invest is NOW.

Don’t be a spectator in this technological revolution.

Dive into the AI gold rush and watch your portfolio soar alongside the brightest minds of our generation.

This isn’t just about making money – it’s about being part of the future.

So, buckle up and get ready for the ride of your investment life!

Act Now and Unlock a Potential 10,000% Return: This AI Stock is a Diamond in the Rough (But Our Help is Key!)

The AI revolution is upon us, and savvy investors stand to make a fortune.

But with so many choices, how do you find the hidden gem – the company poised for explosive growth?

That’s where our expertise comes in.

We’ve got the answer, but there’s a twist…

Imagine an AI company so groundbreaking, so far ahead of the curve, that even if its stock price quadrupled today, it would still be considered ridiculously cheap.

That’s the potential you’re looking at. This isn’t just about a decent return – we’re talking about a 10,000% gain over the next decade!

Our research team has identified a hidden gem – an AI company with cutting-edge technology, massive potential, and a current stock price that screams opportunity.

This company boasts the most advanced technology in the AI sector, putting them leagues ahead of competitors.

It’s like having a race car on a go-kart track.

They have a strong possibility of cornering entire markets, becoming the undisputed leader in their field.

Here’s the catch (it’s a good one): To uncover this sleeping giant, you’ll need our exclusive intel.

We want to make sure none of our valued readers miss out on this groundbreaking opportunity!

That’s why we’re slashing the price of our Premium Readership Newsletter by a whopping 75%.

For a ridiculously low price of just $24, you can unlock a year’s worth of in-depth investment research and exclusive insights – that’s less than a single restaurant meal!

Here’s why this is a deal you can’t afford to pass up:

  • The Name of the Game-Changing AI Stock: Our in-depth report dives deep into our #1 AI stock’s groundbreaking technology and massive growth potential.
  • Ad-Free Browsing: Enjoy a year of investment research free from distracting banner and pop-up ads, allowing you to focus on uncovering the next big opportunity.
  • Lifetime Money-Back Guarantee:  If you’re not absolutely satisfied with our service, we’ll provide a full refund ANYTIME, no questions asked.

 

Space is Limited! Only 1000 spots are available for this exclusive offer. Don’t let this chance slip away – subscribe to our Premium Readership Newsletter today and unlock the potential for a life-changing investment.

Here’s what to do next:

  1. Head over to our website and subscribe to our Premium Readership Newsletter for just $24.
  2. Enjoy a year of ad-free browsing, exclusive access to our in-depth report on the revolutionary AI company, and the upcoming issues of our Premium Readership Newsletter over the next 12 months.
  3. Sit back, relax, and know that you’re backed by our ironclad lifetime money-back guarantee.

Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity! Subscribe now and take control of your AI investment future!

Subscribe Now!

A New Dawn is Coming to U.S. Stocks

I work for one of the largest independent financial publishers in the world – representing over 1 million people in 148 countries.

We’re independently funding today’s broadcast to address something on the mind of every investor in America right now…

Should I put my money in Artificial Intelligence?

Here to answer that for us… and give away his No. 1 free AI recommendation… is 50-year Wall Street titan, Marc Chaikin.

Marc’s been a trader, stockbroker, and analyst. He was the head of the options department at a major brokerage firm and is a sought-after expert for CNBC, Fox Business, Barron’s, and Yahoo! Finance…

But what Marc’s most known for is his award-winning stock-rating system. Which determines whether a stock could shoot sky-high in the next three to six months… or come crashing down.

That’s why Marc’s work appears in every Bloomberg and Reuters terminal on the planet…

And is still used by hundreds of banks, hedge funds, and brokerages to track the billions of dollars flowing in and out of stocks each day.

He’s used this system to survive nine bear markets… create three new indices for the Nasdaq… and even predict the brutal bear market of 2022, 90 days in advance.

Click to continue reading…