Hi everyone! To start off the week, let us dive into Bolivia! I was slightly shocked after searching up on this country because unlike other countries in the Global South, Bolivia is not severely polluted at all! As you can see in the image below, IQAir shows that the AQI index is 2 in Lapaz. That is a significantly low number! It is also shaded in green, which means that the air quality is good.
You can also see in the image some areas of fire. According to IAMAT, Bolivia faces seasonal agricultural fires in the dry months during May to November. It is currently January, so this might the reason why pollution levels seem so low. Apart from that, pollution in Bolivia is mainly caused by oil refineries, on top of usual causes of pollution in other countries, such as vehicle emissions, and waste burning in households and agricultural land.
Other sites tend to praise the efforts by the country in managing pollution levels. According to the UNEP, Bolivia manages its chemicals and waste decently well. Bolivia is considered a low-middle-income country, and in some parts of the country, chemical management policies are not effectively carried out. Regardless, in 2019, these parts of the country have partnered with the UNEP to strengthen national capacities to properly manage chemicals and waste, though the establishment of a Chemicals and Waste Unit in the country. A specific budget has also been allocated to ensure that the government’s treasury department supports other activities under this project. Permanent personnel have also been hired to ensure the operation of this project goes well during the short and long term.
There is also an effective wastewater treatment process in place in the country since 2017. This was developed by the Ministry of Environment and Water, to better regulate wastewater disposal, and to promote a circular economy. This video below explains the initiative better. Maybe other countries in the Global South could emulate such initiatives!
During that same year (2017), there was a nationwide car-free day. The initiative began since 2006, and it has been continuing since, because the country’s people realize how beneficial it is to not use vehicles. You can read more about it by clicking the link! If only many more people in the Global South could live in societies governed by capable leaders. In the next post of the week, I will be delving deeper into understanding how Bolivia can effectively keep pollution levels low.
See you in the next one! ✿
References
Alvestegui, A. (2020) Reuse and Reduce: The Case for Better Wastewater Treatment in Bolivia. 19 March. World Bank Blogs. Available from: https://blogs.worldbank.org/water/reuse-and-reduce-case-better-wastewater-treatment-bolivia [Accessed: 31 January 2022].
Farthing, L. (2017) Pollution Levels in Bolivia Plummet on Nationwide Car-Free Day. 3 September. The Guardian. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2017/sep/03/bolivia-car-free-day-pollution [Accessed: 31 January 2022].
IAMAT (2020) Bolivia General Health Risks: Air Pollution. 16 April. Available from: https://www.iamat.org/country/bolivia/risk/air-pollution#:~:text=Contributors%20to%20poor%20air%20quality,November)%20due%20to%20agricultural%20fires. [Accessed: 31 January 2022].
IQAir (2022) Air Quality in Bolivia. 31 January. Available from: https://www.iqair.com/bolivia [Accessed: 31 January 2022].
UNEP (2019) Bolivia Takes Steps to Protect its Rich Natural Landscapes and Strengthen Environmental Practices. 8 November. Available from: https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/bolivia-takes-steps-protect-its-rich-natural-landscapes-and-strengthen [Accessed: 31 January 2022].
World Bank Water (2020) Working Towards Better Wastewater Treatment in Bolivia. 19 March. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APTRAHJT62A&feature=emb_imp_woyt [Accessed: 31 January 2022].