India has the worst air pollution in the entire world, beating China, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh, according to a study released during this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos.

Of 132 countries whose environments were surveyed, India ranks dead last in the ‘Air (effects on human health)’ ranking. The annual study, the Environmental Performance Index, is conducted and written by environmental research centers at Yale and Columbia universities with assistance from dozens of outside scientists. The study uses satellite data to measure air pollution concentrations.

California approved aggressive new rules on Friday to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by requiring automakers to put many more electric and hybrid vehicles on the Golden State's roads by 2025.

The regulations were approved unanimously by nine members of the state's powerful air-quality regulator, the California Air Resources Board, at a meeting in Los Angeles.

They are expected to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 34 percent and smog and soot pollutants by 75 percent by 2025, in part by putting 1.4 million electric, plug-in and hydrogen vehicles on the state's roads.

ISLAMABAD: The dwellers of capital are exposed to health hazards, as city remains shrouded by worse air pollution for the last many days because of mist on the horizon created by the suspended particulate matter.

In the evening residents come across a thick layer of polluted air hovering over their heads that keeps suspended due to moisture and defective vehicular and industrial pollution.

The latest data put together by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) trashes the automobile industry contention that personal cars account for only 0.6 per cent of India’s diesel consumption.

Estimates recently released by the Society for Indian Automobile Manufactures (SIAM) and the 12th Planning Working Group on Petroleum Sector (WGP) had highlighted that personal cars, SUVs and taxis jointly accounted for five per cent of total diesel use in the country.

California regulators are considering approval of far-reaching anti-smog regulations that would require automakers to ensure that 15 per cent of all vehicles sold in the State by 2025 are zero emission vehicles, while remaining cars will be required to show dramatically improved fuel efficiency.

The California Clean Air Board had been scheduled to vote on the proposal on Thursday, but were still listening to a procession of speakers.

LAHORE: The provincial capital, once called the “city of gardens”, has now turned into the “city of smoke” as excessive poisonous gases have overshadowed the beauty and efficacy of gardens in the city. Noisy and smoke-emitting vehicles have outnumbered the sweet-scented flowers and air-filtering trees in the gardens across the metropolis.

Condemning the rise in pollution, the residents of Lahore, especially the senior citizens, expressed great dismay over the dilapidated gardens while comparing the current condition of the city with that of 30 to 40 years earlier.