When summarizing the economic and social activities after the strong waves of the pandemic caused by COVID 19 that paralyzed the world for a moment, the amount of greenhouse gases in the air is again on the rise in all parts of the planet.
Air pollution is one of the most alarming problems of contemporary times. This pollution can come from natural sources such as natural decomposition processes, the digestion process of animals, a consequence of human activities such as forest fires or the burning of fossil fuels in industrial or transport processes. In fact, the latter is the largest source of air pollution in the city of Quito, being a problem to which the entire population is exposed. This particular was demonstrated with the decrease in the concentration of atmospheric pollutants during the periods of vehicular restriction caused by the pandemic.
Air pollution represents a significant risk to both human health and the environment. According to data reported by the World Health Organization (WHO), exposure to pollutants in the air causes 7 million premature deaths a year. Health risks are mainly related to respiratory and cardiovascular system conditions, but are not limited only to these, for example, suspended materials and outdoor air pollution were categorized as carcinogens according to the WHO IARC. On the other hand, based on the report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the levels of greenhouse gases are at a critical level and the speed of increase in their concentration in the air is alarming. The projected scenarios based on this scientific information are not at all optimistic.
Taking into account that the number of vehicles in the city of Quito amounts to more than 600.000 units, according to information from the Association of Automotive Companies of Ecuador
(AEADE), and the low quality of the fuel used in the country, the issue of air pollution is quite relevant. If the geographical conditions of the city are added to this, such as altitude, which prevents adequate combustion of fossil fuels and influences a low efficiency of the engines, being in a mountainous area causes air displacements to be limited , preventing pollutants from being dispersed outside the city. For this reason we have the ideal conditions so that air pollution is a particularly sensitive problem for the inhabitants and that it is closely linked to the way of transportation.
According to the latest Annual Report on air quality in Quito, corresponding to the year 2019, 12% of days were desirable conditions, 78% of acceptable levels and 10% of precautionary levels in air quality. These 37 days (10%) with levels of precaution are a clear example of a real problem that is affecting the health of the city's inhabitants.
Unfortunately, air pollution problems are not limited solely to their direct effects on people's health. Another very important implication is the contribution of greenhouse gases that are the cause of Global Warming. The increase in temperature alters the structure of ecosystems, displacing species, changing habitats, increasing the frequency and intensity of meteorological phenomena, among several other impacts that put the balance of the environment at risk.
Given that transport is one of the sectors highly responsible for this pollution, the contribution or rather the responsibility that we have as citizens to reduce these emissions are directly related to the way we move. Making use of public transport, sharing personal transport, using alternative means of transport, walking, are measures in which we can all connect and be part of the change that the city needs, both to protect the environment and to safeguard a more air clean for us and our loved ones.
