State of Air Quality in Malawi — Oak Academic Publishing
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State of Air Quality in Malawi
1School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan, China; 2Department of Physics and Bioche- mical Sciences, The Polytechnic, University of Malawi, Private Bag 303, Blantyre, Malawi.
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School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan, China
1 1School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan, China; 2Department of Physics and Bioche- mical Sciences, The Polytechnic, University of Malawi, Private Bag 303, Blantyre, Malawi.
2 School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan, China
Air pollution in Malawi is recognized as one of the key environmental issues. Out of nine key issues it is ranked eighth on priority issues. This has led to lagging behind in terms of research and reporting on the issue. However, the Malawi Government has made strides in implementing policies, acts and programs that are directly or indirectly concerned with the improvement and abatement of air quality to meet the millennium development goals (MDGs) especially goal number 7. The inventories and studies show that air quality in Malawi is still good, but future anticipated air quality problems are cause for worry such as impact on human health, global climate change and ozone depletion. Trends in consumption of ozone depleting substances (ODS) show a remarkable drive towards total reduction. Emissions standards are in place in line with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Recommendations on how to deal with air quality issues have been proposed in the national state of environmental report (NSOER) in that: 1) there is a need for an operational framework for climate change programs in Malawi and ; 2) there is a need to unify climate change policies dealing with enforcement of ODS phasing out, alternative energy sources, emissions from vehicles and industries, and institutional and human resource capacity.
KeywordsAir QualityState of Environment ReportOzone Depleting SubstancesClimate ChangeMalawi
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