Abstract
This review highlights the importance of air quality in the African urban development process. We address connections between air pollution and (a) rapid urbanization, (b) social problems, (c) health impacts, (d) climate change, (e) policies, and (f) new innovations. We acknowledge that air pollution levels in Africa can be extremely high and a serious health threat. The toxic content of the pollution could relate to region-specific sources such as low standards for vehicles and fuels, cooking with solid fuels, and burning household waste. We implore the pursuit of interdisciplinary research to create new approaches with relevant stakeholders. Moreover, successful air pollution research must regard conflicts, tensions, and synergies inherent to development processes in African municipalities, regions, and countries. This includes global relationships regarding climate change, trade, urban planning, and transportation. Incorporating aspects of local political situations (e.g., democracy) can also enhance greater political accountability and awareness about air pollution.
Highlights
Air pollution is the most important global environmental factor of ill health [25, 76]
This review addresses the connections between urban air pollution and (a) rapid urbanization, (b) social problems, (c) health impacts, (d) climate change, (e) policies, and ( f ) new innovations
In many African cities today, urbanization occurs under poverty, whereby authorities lack the finances, human resources, mandates, and planning tools to support urban populations and their infrastructural needs [46, 50, 107]
Summary
Air pollution is the most important global environmental factor of ill health [25, 76]. The research has expanded from Europe and North America to Asia and South America. We aim to highlight the importance of focusing on air quality in the process of sustainable urban development in Africa, a continent undergoing rapid urbanization with an extreme shortage of air pollution data [138]. Better air pollution data enabled by capacity building could enhance public concern followed by a grassroots demand for, and development of, clean air strategies, as has been seen in Europe, North America, and more recently, China [54]. Addressing air pollution could drive other positive changes in relation to health, climate, and well-being. This review addresses the connections between urban air pollution and (a) rapid urbanization, (b) social problems, (c) health impacts, (d) climate change, (e) policies, and ( f ) new innovations. The interdisciplinary team compiling this review comprises researchers from epidemiology, medicine, engineering, natural sciences, and social sciences in close collaboration with African colleagues
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