Listening
Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
- database / ˈdeɪ təˌbeɪs / (n.) – a large collection of facts or information that is well-organized, accessible, and saved in a computer system
Example:Scientists created a database to effectively monitor temperature changes over time.
- polluted / pəˈlu tɪd / (adj.) – made dirty and not fit for use
Example:The government asked factories to clean up the polluted rivers because they are the ones who made them dirty.
- counter / ˈkaʊn tər / (v.) – to take action to lessen or stop the negative effects of something
Example:The government introduced new tax laws and business policies to counter the economic crisis.
- incorporate / ɪnˈkɔr pəˌreɪt / (v.) – to include or combine something as part of something larger
Example:The government plans to incorporate findings from recent studies to develop better health policies.
- consulate / ˈkɒn sə lɪt / (n.) – the office or building where a government official represents their country's interests and assists its citizens in a foreign country
Example:He lost his passport while traveling, so he went to his country’s consulate for help.
Article
Read the text below.
Most of the world has dirty air, with just 17% of cities globally meeting air pollution guidelines, a report found.
Switzerland-based air quality monitoring database IQAir analyzed data from 40,000 air quality monitoring stations in 138 countries and found that Chad, Congo, Bangladesh, Pakistan and India had the dirtiest air. India had six of the nine most polluted cities, with the industrial town of Byrnihat in northeastern India the worst.
Experts said the real amount of air pollution might be far greater, as many parts of the world lack the monitoring needed for more accurate data. In Africa, for example, there is only one monitoring station for every 3.7 million people.
More air quality monitors are being set up to counter the issue, the report said. This year, report authors were able to incorporate data from 8,954 new locations and around a thousand new monitors as a result of efforts to better monitor air pollution.
But a few weeks ago, data monitoring for air pollution was dealt a blow when the U.S. State Department announced it would no longer make public its data from its embassies and consulates around the world.
Breathing in polluted air over a long period can cause respiratory illnesses, Alzheimer’s disease and cancer, said Fatimah Ahamad, chief scientist and air pollution expert at Malaysia-based Sunway Centre for Planetary Health. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that air pollution kills around 7 million people each year.
Ahamad said much more needs to be done to cut air pollution levels. The WHO had earlier found that 99% of the world’s population lives in places that do not meet recommended air quality levels.
“If you have bad water, no water, you can tell people to wait for half an hour a day, the water will come. But if you have bad air, you cannot tell people to pause breathing,” she said.
Several cities like Beijing; Seoul, South Korea; and Rybnik in Poland have successfully improved their air quality through stricter regulations on pollution from vehicles, power plants and industry. They’ve also promoted cleaner energy and invested in public transportation.
This article was provided by The Associated Press.
Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
- According to a report, only 17% of global cities meet air pollution guidelines, and air quality poses serious health risks. What do you think governments should do to improve air quality? What do you think are the root causes of poor air quality in many countries? Discuss.
- In your country, what measures have been taken to improve air quality? How well do you think these measures are working? If there aren’t many measures, what could your government do to raise awareness and encourage people to get involved in improving air quality? Discuss.
Discussion B
- The U.S. State Department recently decided to stop sharing air pollution data from embassies and consulates with the public. What do you think about the U.S. State Department’s decision? How might this decision impact global efforts to fight air pollution? Discuss.
- How do you think international relations might be affected if important environmental information, like air pollution data, is not shared between countries? Do you think it would be easy for countries to build and restore trust and cooperation in addressing global environmental problems when data sharing is limited? Why or why not? Discuss.
