Air pollution issues are not new to the Emirates. The country was named “country with the world’s worst air” by the World Bank’s annual 2015 report on global environmental indicators, known as the “Little Green Data Book”. The UAE ranked even worse than China or India, two countries famous for their bad air pollution and that usually lead this negative “competition”. According to the World Bank’s report, the UAE’s air contained 80 micrograms of pollutants per cubic meter at the time, which was slightly higher than China’s at 73 micrograms and almost three times India’s result, with 32 micrograms.

The environmental reality in Sudan is experiencing major deteriorationn, although it is a forerunner in enacting environment-related legislation aimed at protecting resources and giving priority to environment in economic investments. Yet the enforcement of these laws remains weak.

It will be difficult to tackle air pollution without a united political front. As well as a comprehensive approach, there is also a desperate need for closer regional cooperation, which in the current political climate is unlikely. If the situation continues to deteriorate, air pollution will become one of the most pressing political and security issues facing the Islamic Republic.

While atmospheric pollution in Iran is not as severe as in India or China, it endangers the health of its residents. However, the local authorities shut schools, cancelled sporting events and restrictions on road traffic were stepped up, including a ban on trucks.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme “ Environment can be used as a kind of weapon of war in that sort of strategy within a conflict to increase the damage to the local population,”. Unfortunately, the environment is frequently a secondary concern for people recovering from war.