Kenya is world’s least toxic country according ranking by renewable energy firm The Eco Experts by the help of data obtained from the International Energy Agency and World Health Organization (WHO).
In an article published on Newsweek, the east African nation topped a list that takes account of air pollution, energy consumption and renewable energy production.
Middle East countries dominated the most toxic countries with Saudi Arabia leading the pack. The cleanest countries were largely those from Sub-Saharan Africa.
According to Eco Experts, the results are a warning that continued emissions of greenhouse gases could cause disastrous and irreversible damage to the planet.
Data released by WHO last year revealed that levels of air pollution had increased by 8 percent between 2009 and 2016. According to its estimates, poor air quality claims the lives of 7 million people every year.
Maria Neira, WHO’s public health chief, said the figures were indicative of a “major, major public health problem,” stressing that public awareness of the issue needed to be raised.
“We have a public health emergency in many countries,” Neira said. “Urban air pollution continues to rise at an alarming rate, wreaking havoc on human health. It’s dramatic, one of the biggest problems we are facing globally, with terrible future costs to society.
“The cost for countries is enormous. Air pollution affects economies and people’s quality of life. It leads to major chronic diseases and to people ultimately dying.”
