Africa: Rural-Urban Migration 'Cut Bush Burning, Air Pollution'

1 March 2021

Accra — Harmful emissions of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were reduced in 13 African countries in recent years, bucking the trend of increasing air pollution, as rural to urban migration led to a decline in agricultural burning, a study suggests.

Researchers say that Africa has about 70 per cent of burned areas globally, with the practice of bush burning -- setting fires during dry seasons to clear land -- particularly common in north equatorial Africa. The region is home to over 275 million people and spans 15 countries including Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Senegal, South Sudan and Uganda.

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