Dhaka's air quality continued to remain in the 'unhealthy' zone on Friday morning. With an air quality index (AQI) score of 184 at 9 am today, Dhaka ranked fourth again in the list of cities around the world with the worst air quality after Thursday. An AQI between 101 and 200 is considered 'unhealthy', particularly for sensitive groups. Pakistan’s Lahore, India’s Delhi and Pakistan’s Karachi occupied the first three spots in the list, with AQI scores of 353, 217 and 185, respectively. Read more: Dhaka’s air 4th most polluted in the world this morning An AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be 'poor', while a reading of 301 to 400 is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents. In Bangladesh, the AQI score is based on five kinds of pollutants — particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone. Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon. Read more: Dhaka ranks 5th worst in Air Quality Index Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide. Breathing polluted air has long been recognised as increasing a person’s chances of developing a heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung infections and cancer, according to several studies. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.

Air pollution still remains one of the top-most challenges for Bangladesh and Dhaka was ranked as the fifth most polluted city in the world with ‘unhealthy’ air quality on Wednesday (November 23, 2022) morning. Dhaka’s air quality index (AQI) score was 196 at 9.15 am today. Read: Effects of Air Pollution on Unborn Children, Neonates, Infants An AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be ‘very unhealthy’, while a reading of 301 to 400 is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents. Pakistan’s Lahore, Iraq's Baghdad and India’s Delhi occupied the first and third spots in the list, with AQI scores of 306, 255 and 223, respectively. Read: WASA key reason behind pollution of Dhaka’s rivers, NRCC chairman says An AQI between 101 and 200 is considered 'unhealthy', particularly for sensitive groups. In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.

Dhaka's air quality continued to be in the 'unhealthy' zone on Tuesday morning. With an air quality index (AQI) score of 196 at 10:20 am, the metropolis ranked second in the list of world cities with the worst air quality. An AQI between 101 and 200 is considered 'unhealthy', particularly for sensitive groups. Pakistan’s Lahore and Karachi occupied the first and third spots in the list, with AQI scores of 317 and 184, respectively. Read more: Air quality in Dhaka 'unhealthy' this morning An AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be 'poor', while a reading of 301 to 400 is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents. In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone. Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon. Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide. Breathing polluted air has long been recognised as increasing a person’s chances of developing a heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung infections and cancer, according to several studies. Read more: Dhaka's air quality continues to be 'unhealthy' As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.

Dhaka's air quality continued to be in the 'unhealthy' zone on Monday morning. With an air quality index (AQI) score of 152 at 9am, the metropolis ranked 14th in the list of world cities with the worst air quality. An AQI between 101 and 200 is considered 'unhealthy', particularly for sensitive groups. Read more: Dhaka's air quality continues to be 'unhealthy' Pakistan’s Lahore, India’s Delhi and Poland’s Krakow occupied the first three spots in the list, with AQI scores of 354, 263, and 187 respectively. An AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be 'poor', while a reading of 301 to 400 is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents. In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone. Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon. Read more: As winter approaches, Dhaka's air quality 'unhealthy' in the mornings Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide. Breathing polluted air has long been recognised as increasing a person’s chances of developing a heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung infections and cancer, according to several studies. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.

The decision Sunday by nations around the world to establish a fund to help poor countries hit hard by a warming planet was one of the most significant since U.N. climate talks began 30 years ago. It was an unequivocal confirmation that poor countries, with limited resources, are being most impacted by extreme weather events like floods, heat waves and storms and, at least at some level, industrialized nations that have done the most to contribute to climate change have a responsibility to help. While government leaders, environmentalists and activists celebrated plans for such a fund, there are many outstanding questions, ranging from how it will work to long-term repercussions. Here is a look at the development of the idea of “loss and damage,” the term it’s given in climate negotiations, and what we know about the fund. Read more: UN climate deal: Calamity cash, but no new emissions cuts HISTORY In the early 1990s, the Alliance of Small Island States, a group of low-lying coastal and small island countries, began calling for the establishment of a loss and damage fund as the United Nations was creating a framework to deal with climate change on an international level. Since then, the idea has always been a part of annual U.N. climate summits. However, it was often talked about on the margins of negotiations, something developing nations and activists would push for while many rich nations used their weight to squash the idea. For the first time, at this year’s COP27 it was included in the agenda and became the centerpiece of discussions. WHO WILL FUND IT? The fund will initially draw on contributions from developed countries and other private and public sources, such as international financial institutions, with an option for other major economies to join down the line. The final text points to “identifying and expanding sources of funding,” something the EU, the U.S. and others had pushed for during negotiations, suggesting that nations that are both high-polluting and considered developing under the criteria, should also pay into the fund. During the talks, China said money for the new fund should come from developed countries, not them. But there’s precedence for China to voluntarily pay into climate funds, if the U.S. does too. When the Obama administration pledged $3 billion to the Green Climate Fund in 2014, China also paid $3.1 billion for the fund. More details of who pays will be decided by a committee that plans to get the fund going within a year. Read more: UN climate talks drag into extra time with scant progress WHO WILL GET MONEY? The deal says the fund will assist “developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change," though there will be room for middle-income countries that are severely affected by climate disasters to also get paid. Pakistan, which was devastated by flooding that put a third of the country underwater, or Cuba, recently battered by Hurricane Ian, could be eligible. How the loss and damage fund will fit in with "other institutions, agencies that are out there doing humanitarian work, helping people rebuild, dealing with migration and refugee crises, dealing with food security, water security” will need to be worked out, said David Waskow, the World Resources Institute international climate director. Those details will also be hammered out by the committee in the coming year. REBUILDING TRUST Beyond just financial help, setting up the fund is seen as a huge step forward, but how it's ultimately viewed will depend in part on how fast it can be set up. In the closing session Sunday, Antigua's Lia Nicholson said the transitional committee should be set up immediately and given clear mandates. “This loss and damage fund must become the lifeboat that we need it to be,” she said. There is a credibility gap because of past broken promises. In 2009, rich nations agreed to provide $100 billion a year to help developing countries transition to green energy systems and adapt to climate change. However, to date, that initiative has never been fully funded. Read more: Time running out for climate negotiators over loss and damage REPERCUSSIONS One of the main reasons that rich nations long opposed such a loss and damage fund was the fear that it would open then up to long-term liability. Despite passage, that concern is very much still at play, as evidence by how negotiators made sure the language of the fund didn’t say “liability” and that contributions were voluntary. Despite those caveats, the establishment of such a fund could have repercussions, both legal and symbolic, in climate circles and beyond. For example, several Pacific Island nations have been pushing for the International Court of Justice to consider climate change. They argue that international laws must be strengthened to protect their rights in the case that their lands are engulfed by rising seas. The establishment of a loss and damage fund could bolster those arguments.

Dhaka's air quality continued to be in the 'unhealthy' zone on Wednesday morning. With an air quality index (AQI) score of 152 at 10.35am on Wednesday, Dhaka ranked 17th in the list of cities around the world with the worst air quality. Pakistan’s Lahore, India’s Delhi and Pakistan's Karachi occupied the first three spots, with AQI scores of 281, 252 and 211, respectively. Read: Noise pollution: The lethal soundtrack to life in Dhaka An AQI between 101 and 200 is considered 'unhealthy', particularly for sensitive groups. Similarly, an AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be 'poor', while a reading of 301 to 400 is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents. Read: Effects of Air Pollution on Unborn Children, Neonates, Infants AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, is used by government agencies to inform people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is, and what associated health effects might be a concern for them. In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.

Dhaka's air quality continued to be in the 'unhealthy' zone on Tuesday morning. With an air quality index (AQI) score of 167 at 11am, the metropolis ranked sixth in the list of world cities with the worst air quality. An AQI between 101 and 200 is considered 'unhealthy', particularly for sensitive groups. Pakitan’s Karachi India’s Kolkata and Delhi occupied the first three spots in the list, with AQI scores of 222 and 185, and 180  respectively. An AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be 'poor', while a reading of 301 to 400 is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents. Read more: Air quality: Dhaka world’s 2nd most polluted city this morning In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone. Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon. Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide. Breathing polluted air has long been recognised as increasing a person’s chances of developing a heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung infections and cancer, according to several studies. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.

Climate change is seriously disrupting city life across the globe, Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Md Atiqul Islam said Monday, urging everyone to work together to save cities and their people. No one is safe until everyone is safe, he added. He was speaking at the Blue Zone of the 27th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) China Pavilion with C40 – a network of mayors of nearly 100 world-leading cities collaborating to deliver the urgent action needed right now to confront the climate crisis – in Egypt's Sharm El Sheikh. Atiqul spoke to the mayors of Chinese cities and representatives of other South-South cities. The Blue Zone is a UN-managed space where negotiations are hosted and, to enter, all attendees must be credited by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat.  This year there are 156 pavilions inside the Blue Zone, double the amount at Glasgow. Many UN agencies, countries and regions are being represented. Atiqul said: "Heatwaves, flooding, cyclones and salinity are making people leave their homes for cities in search of a living and livelihood. As mayors, we have responsibilities towards our cities and their people." Read more: Around 6500 become climate refugees in Bangladesh every year: Momen at COP27 The vital United Nations climate talks, billed as one of the last chances to stave off climate breakdown, are taking place from November 6-18 amid a multitude of competing crises, including the war in Ukraine, high inflation, food shortages and an energy crunch. Negotiators are spending frantic days discussing whether to formally consider the issue of loss and damage, or reparations, to vulnerable nations suffering from climate change, and the issues, which weighed on the talks for years at COP27. Read more: Bangladesh wants mechanism to address loss and damage financing by 2024  

Dhaka's air quality continued to be in the 'unhealthy' zone on Monday morning. With an air quality index (AQI) score of 195 at 9am, the metropolis ranked second in the list of world cities with the worst air quality. An AQI between 101 and 200 is considered 'unhealthy', particularly for sensitive groups. Read more: Dhaka’s air quality ‘very unhealthy’ this morning India’s Delhi and Kolkata occupied the first and third spots in the list, with AQI scores of 225 and 188, respectively. An AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be 'poor', while a reading of 301 to 400 is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents. In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone. Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon. Read more: Dhaka's air quality is still 'unhealthy' Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide. Breathing polluted air has long been recognised as increasing a person’s chances of developing a heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung infections and cancer, according to several studies. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.

Climate experts joining this year’s COP27  from Bangladesh has said that they have asked the developed countries to double their funds to climate-vulnerable countries within 2025 under a new roadmap. Talking to UNB, experts said that they’ve demanded an increase in climate financing because the amount that was calculated earlier isn’t enough to meet the current challenges. “We’ve asked for a roadmap where it’ll be clearly stated that which country will provide how much funds to which sector. The developed countries have to reiterate their pledges to provide funds for adaptation to and mitigation of climate change,” said Ziaul Haque, a climate expert and a representative from Bangladesh to COP27. Ziaul added that climate vulnerable countries need USD 4 trillion to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and USD 7 trillion for putting the Paris Climate Agreement into practice. Read more: “We had enough of your promises and we need these words to be put into action now” “This is why we’ve urged the rich countries to ramp up their funding,” the expert added. Ziaul informed that discussions are being held to finalize the Global Goal on Adaptation laid out in the Paris Agreement at this year’s climate conference. “The Paris Agreement doesn’t explain what has been meant by global goals, what are their targets and how these goals will be met. Countries joining COP27 are giving serious efforts to shape up these goals. We hope that these goals will be made effective by COP28 to be held in Abu Dhabi in 2023,” Ziaul said. Mirza Shawkat Ali, another Bangladeshi representative to the conference, said that developed countries are toying with the idea of climate financing. “Rich countries are finding various excuses to avoid funding for climate change. They’re saying that their economies are in a crisis due to the Russia-Ukraine war and global economic slowdown. Although they had promised to provide funds in the Paris Agreement, in reality they haven’t released a single penny till now. This is the reason why climate vulnerable countries like us are very much vocal about climate financing this time,” said Shawkat. Aminul Islam, an observer from Bangladesh, said that US President Joe Biden’s statement doesn’t comply with the Paris Agreement. Read more: Honour COP26 commitments, double provisions for adaptation by 2025: PM Hasina writes “The United States is a big economy and a top carbon emitter. They should share the burden and provide their due funding. But Biden has said that the US will provide funds on an ad-hoc basis, which is against the pledges that his country had made in the Paris Agreement. The affected countries need USD 600 billion to adapt to Climate Change and the US should be the first country to share this amount,” said Aminul.