Most Polluting Nations in the World

4. Russia:

Russia with just 2 percent increase in the CO₂ emission, that is, 449 million tons, features among the most polluting countries of the world and ranks fourth on the list. This is mainly attributed to the ill-considered military and industrial development during the Soviet Union that was undertaken without concern for the environmental and health consequences.

Automobiles are now the major source of pollution in Russia where more than 200 cities in Russia exceed pollution limits. However, the pollution caused by industrialization has reduced as production has slowed down.

5. Japan:

In Japan, environmental pollution started since the industrialization of the Meiji period. It was during the 60s, emission of nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide had tripled and the country became well known for pollution-related ailments like Yokkaichi asthma, Minamata disease (mercury poisoning) which are named after the cities they first appeared. The main cause of pollution in Japan is the heavy industrialization and also pollutants from its neighboring countries that are massively deteriorating the quality of air in this country, because of which the country had imposed strict regulations to reduce pollution.

In 1994, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) highly praised Japan as it managed to control and reduce pollution despite its growing economy. Japan ranks at fifth on the list of the most polluting nations, with the total carbon emission of 336 million tons.

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