Air quality still a global problem

Not everyone has access to pure, fresh air.
Half the world's population live in nations with poor air quality.

The Yale-based 2016 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) has been released and while there were some improvements, the global report also points at troubling declines in areas such as air quality and fisheries.

Global air pollution has become a major concern and now accounts for 10 percent of all deaths, the report claims (compared to 2 percent of deaths due to foul water).

Too many people live and work in nations that expose them to unsafe levels of air pollution. We are talking half the world's population here, more than 3.5 billion people.

Apparently, it doesn't matter whether the nation is poor or overly industrialized. The authors of the report urged policymakers to work together to make changes and improve air quality. They point to successful initiatives like providing clean drinking water and sewage infrastructure.

The EPI looks at 180 countries and how they protect ecosystems and human health.

The full report is available online.