The WHO has announced a shocking finding about the air we breathe. It said almost everyone on Earth breathes unhealthy air. The WHO's air quality update said that 99 per cent of the world's population breathes air that breaks air quality limits. Researchers looked at data from over 6,000 cities in 117 countries. People living in poorer countries breathe the unhealthiest air. Millions of people die in these countries from pollution-related diseases. The WHO said: "After surviving a pandemic, it is unacceptable to still have 7 million preventable deaths…due to air pollution."
The WHO stressed the need to move away from fossil fuels. It asked governments to do more to cut air pollution. It wants the world to quickly change to cleaner and healthier energy. It added that high gas prices, energy security, air pollution, and climate change mean the world must use fossil fuels less. The WHO report has many recommendations for change. One of these is the use of clean energy for cooking, heating and lighting. Another is to "build safe and affordable public transport systems and pedestrian- and cycle-friendly networks".