Smog alert! Nearly 1,200 brick kilns nationwide start firing today
Summary
Nearly 1,200 brick kilns across Nepal started firing, worsening the already deteriorating air quality, posing severe health and economic risks as detailed by experts and a World Bank report.
Key Points
- Nearly 1,200 brick kilns nationwide began firing on January 15, significantly worsening air pollution.
- Most kilns use low-quality, high-sulphur coal which contributes heavily to harmful emissions and health hazards.
- Air pollution is the leading risk factor for death and disease in Nepal, cutting average life expectancy by 3.4 years.
- The economic cost of poor air quality is over six percent of Nepal's GDP annually and is expected to worsen without intervention.
