Some cities are still benefitting from lock-down-related improvements to air quality, while others are slipping back into a haze.
Earlier this year, we saw an unprecedented pause in global activity as most countries went into lockdown to stop the spread of COVID-19. Just two weeks in, PM2.5 levels plunged across some of the world’s busiest cities, leading to improved air quality, increased visibility and even some historical moments, like the Himalaya’s becoming visible for the first time in 30 years in India.
Now, as life slowly returns to normal around the world, our air quality comparison across 15 major cities reveals that while some are still benefitting from cleaner air, others have seen pollution skyrocket.
To calculate which cities have seen the most significant rise in air pollution, we looked at PM2.5 levels:
- Pre-lockdown (Feb & March)
- Peak lockdown (April & May)
- Post-lockdown (June &July)
Location | Pre-lockdown Feb - March Average PM2.5 | Peak-lockdown April - May Average PM2.5 | Post-lockdown June - July Average PM2.5 |
---|---|---|---|
Hong Kong | 58 | 50 | 22 |
Rome | 78 | 50 | 47 |
Hamburg | 54 | 37 | 29 |
Singapore | 49 | 43 | 35 |
London | 49 | 48 | 39 |
Paris | 50 | 52 | 46 |
Brisbane | 23 | 24 | 22 |
Delhi | 172 | 123 | 113 |
Beijing | 103 | 98 | 104 |
Los Angeles | 39 | 40 | 48 |
Melbourne | 26 | 34 | 41 |
Madrid | 55 | 50 | 63 |
Sydney | 26 | 23 | 17 |
Cape Town | 26 | 30 | 39 |
New York | 35 | 22 | 33 |
What is PM2.5?
Particulate Matter (PM) are minuscule airborne pollutants that come from vehicles, industrial and agricultural emissions, residential heating and manufacturing plants, among other things. The 2.5 in PM2.5 refers to the size of these pollutants, which are microscopic, easily inhaled, and so small, they can even pass into the bloodstream. PM2.5 is usually measured on a scale of 0-500, and even low levels can be harmful.
This particular type of pollution is linked to high mortality rates. One Harvard study has linked long-term exposure to air pollution with increased COVID-19 death rates, and one report attributed 3 million early deaths to PM2.5. in 2017.
- 0-50 – good
- 51-100 – moderate
- 101-151 – unhealthy for sensitive groups
- 151-200 – unhealthy
- 201-300 – very unhealthy
- 301-500 – hazardous
6 of 15 Cities Analysed Have Seen Air Pollution Increase Post-Lockdown
Since June, air pollution has increased in Beijing, Los Angeles, Melbourne, Madrid, Cape Town and New York, with most seeing a double-digit increase in PM2.5 levels since lockdown ended.
Air pollution in New York Skyrockets
New York City saw a considerable dip in PM2.5 levels during peak lockdown when pollution levels plunged by 59%. As things in the city slowly start to return to normal, however, there has been a 33% increase in air pollution as PM2.5 levels spring to almost pre-lockdown levels.
APAC Cities See the Most Significant Improvement
Except for Brisbane, most of the APAC cities analysed have seen massive improvements to air quality both during and post lockdown.
During peak lockdown, air pollution reduced in Hong Kong by 16%, in Sydney by 13%, and in Singapore by 14%, with the trend continuing into post-lockdown as Hong Kong saw a further 127% reduction in air pollution, followed by 35% in Sydney and 23% in Singapore.
Of the APAC cities analysed, Brisbane saw an increase in pollution during lockdown but has since seen an improvement of almost 10%.
Melbourne has not followed a similar trend; however, as PM2.5 levels have been consistently high in the city this year. One of the main reasons for this could be the severe bushfires which raged through Melbourne’s Capital, Victoria, earlier in 2020.
Air Quality Has Not Improved in Some Cities
While cities like London, Hong Kong, Singapore and Paris all saw air pollution plunge as the pandemic brought daily life to a standstill and commuting reduced, other cities saw no improvements to air quality at all.
During peak lockdown in April and May, air pollution increased in Melbourne, Cape Town and Los Angeles, by 24%, 13% and 3% respectively. The trend continued into June and July as lockdowns began to relax, with Melbourne air pollution increasing by 17% followed by Los Angeles at 16%, and Cape Town, with a huge 23% increase.
Upward Trend Across European Cities
London saw PM2.5 levels plunge during lockdown, and even as lockdown measures relaxed, the capital saw a further 23% decrease in air pollution in June and July. One of Germany’s largest cities is following a similar trend, with levels dipping by 46% in Hamburg during lockdown and dropping by another 28% in the last two months. In Rome, levels dropped by a massive 56% and have dropped by another 6% recently.
Despite a slight increase in PM2.5 levels in Paris during peak lockdown, the city has since seen a 13% dip in air pollution.
Unlike many of its European counterparts, Madrid has not seen air quality improvements of late. As lockdown eased in the city in June and July and commuters hit the roads again, air pollution rose by 21%.
How Businesses Can Become More Sustainable As We Head into 2021
- Measure your carbon footprint: The first step to reducing the carbon footprint of your business is to measure your current output. Setting a benchmark is the first step in planning a reduction strategy. A third-party audit enables companies to calculate and map emissions throughout the organisation, from office space and operations to travel and logistics. This plan will help you identify the strategy needed to reach net-zero. Some of the largest companies in the world have already committed to net-zero emission strategies, including Nestle and Qantas.
- Set reduction targets: Each industry faces a unique set of challenges and opportunities when it comes to business and climate change, but the one way you can measure success as you move towards becoming more sustainable is by setting reduction targets. This could be around the energy efficiency of your office space or commercial space, staff training, and using sustainable energy and electricity. It is crucial to sense-check that your targets are realistic and fit in with overall business goals.
- Support climate policies: Enable your organisation to support climate action that is working towards a more sustainable future. Discover what action your city is taking to help reduce climate change and get involved. C40 Cities has a useful tool that enables you to filter cities according to initiative. Some of the greenest cities in the world have some strong actions in place. In the UK, greener designs could save the economy an estimated £15.3bn by 2025.
Method: We used historical data from the World Air Quality Index to compare average PM2.5 levels in 15 major cities between February & March, April & May, June & July. Please note that lockdown start dates and relaxation dates differ around the world. As a result, we have used the above months as a guide.
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