73% of National Governments Fail to Provide Fully Transparent Air Pollution Data
New report by OpenAQ offers insights into monitoring of air quality around the world and how the data are shared
Air pollution is a “silent killer” that accounts for 8+ million early deaths each year.
We believe governments have a responsibility and, at the same time, a leadership opportunity to step up and tackle the second leading risk factor (and greatest external threat) for death. One key, often overlooked way for countries to accelerate clean air progress is to provide open access to air quality data. Full data transparency maximizes the potential of these data to be applied toward understanding, communicating and solving the air pollution crisis.
However, OpenAQ’s recent report, Open Air Quality Data: The Global Landscape 2024, finds that only a small subset of countries are providing fully transparent air quality data. Many countries don’t fully open their data, and many of the most populated, polluted countries have no national air quality monitoring at all.
The report also highlights countries that have stepped up since 2022 and displayed leadership by either beginning to monitor or improving air quality data transparency.
In the quest for clean air for all, OpenAQ appeals to all governments to monitor air quality and to offer fully transparent data. We stand ready to help governments apply open data best practices so that they do not have to solve the problem of air pollution in isolation. We also appeal to funders, such as development banks and philanthropies, to support less-resourced governments.
See the full infographic and additional links below.
