{"id":3530,"date":"2020-11-16T18:13:17","date_gmt":"2020-11-16T17:13:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/akademie.dw.de\/datamaroc\/?p=3530"},"modified":"2020-12-01T18:57:26","modified_gmt":"2020-12-01T17:57:26","slug":"quel-impact-sur-la-qualite-de-lair-a-casablanca","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/akademie.dw.de\/datamaroc\/2020\/11\/16\/quel-impact-sur-la-qualite-de-lair-a-casablanca\/","title":{"rendered":"Le confinement : quel impact sur la qualit\u00e9 de l’air \u00e0 Casablanca ?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Air quality: Have the lockdowns affected the air quality in Casablanca?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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By Hind Dahnou and Houria Essoufi<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The lockdowns in Morocco have lowered air pollution in Casablanca, an analysis finds.<\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Morocco, as any other country, was affected by Covid-19. The first case was recorded on the 2rd<\/sup> of March, 2020. 39 cases and 1 death followed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To prevent the spread of the pandemic and preserve the health and safety of Moroccan citizens, Moroccan authorities have decided to declare a \u201cstate of health emergency\u201d and taken a set of rapid and strict measures against Covid-19. All Moroccan cities were locked down, and the majority of industrial and commercial activities have been forced to stop their activities until further notice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How concerned should we be about air pollution and COVID-19?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WHO\u2019s Dr. Maria Neira said<\/a>: \u201c We are very concerned, because air pollution \u2013 as probably many people know by now \u2013 represents 7 million premature deaths caused every year due to the exposure of air pollution.\u201d She added: \u201cWe need to make sure that this double burden is tackled in a very important way, addressing as well the causes of air pollution.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the lockdown the streets of our cities were deserted. We hardly see any planes in the sky and no car sounds that shock people in the morning; it has been replaced by the chirping of birds. Even human activity has slowed down, offering a little break to nature. Many people were amazed to see videos and Photography of Cities known to be the most polluted in Morocco<\/a> like Casablanca.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Air quality data shows that this as a result brought a positive impact on our environment which includes the decrease in air pollution because of the less carbon guzzling planes flying in the sky as well as less fuel burned by cars driven on the road. Morocco\u2019s Secretary of State for Sustainable Development Nezha El Ouafi said that the economic cost of air pollution in Morocco is estimated at 1.62 percent of the country\u2019s GDP<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There were many awareness campaigns that aim to preserve the air quality and call for reducing toxic gases produced by factories before the coronavirus pandemic, but fortunately the factories stopped working in the period of lockdowns. Morocco, like the rest of the world, celebrates World Environment Day, which this year was chosen as the slogan \u201cFight air pollution\u201d through a series of communication and awareness activities throughout June at the central and regional level. These activities include organizing meetings and seminars, hygiene campaigns, and broadcasting news and awareness programmes on radio and television channels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The air has become healthier during the lockdown. Many air pollutants decreased: The Air quality index, as well as PM and NO2<\/sub> values became better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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