Moroccan Official Says Air Pollution Costs 1.62 percent of Morocco's GDP

Rabat – Morocco’s 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’s GDP.

The statement came during a press briefing at the National Laboratory for Studies and Pollution Monitoring. El Ouafi added that the cost of air pollution in Morocco adds up to nearly $1.2 billion per year due to its effects on public health and the environment.

The worrying number means Morocco attaches special importance to air pollution because of its direct impact on people and the environment, El Ouafi said. Vehicle emissions are the most important sources of air pollution in Moroccan urban centers, accounting for 50 to 60 percent of the pollution.

Aside from causing economic problems, air pollution causes a great public health risk globally. According to a 2016 World Health Organization study, 3 million deaths a year are linked to exposure to outdoor air pollution. The study also found that a shocking 92 percent of the world’s population lives in areas with unhealthy levels of pollution.