Question

QUESTION: Compare and contrast the countries based on the chart you created above, then talk about potential health implications.

Access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking

Low Income- Japan	Middle Income(Upper)- Panama	High Income- Alergia
2010-100.00	2010-85.84	2010-92.41
2016-100.00	2016-89.01	2016-92.61

B. Air Pollution Chart:

Low Income- Japan	Middle Income(Upper)- Panama	High Income- Alergia
2010-92.589 2016-75.412	2010-96.218 2016-72.134	2010-100.00 2016-100.00

Answer 1

Interpretations from 1st table -:

1. Low income country - Japan shows full access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking as compared to Panama (middle income country) and Algeria (High Income Country)

2. There has been an improvement in access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking in Panama and a negligible change has been seen in Algeria over the period of 6 years ( from 2010-2016)

3. It can be said that govt of low income country - Japan is paying attention over the provision of cleaner fuels for cooking for their people unlike middle and high income countries as is evident from the chart.

Potential Health Implications -:

1. Undertaking a combined analysis of both the charts,it can be said that population of middle and high income country rely on unclean fuels (on an average 8-11% of people).

2. It means they are dependent on traditional ways of cooking which pollutes the environment which produces soot and also has the potential to cause respiratory diseases among women.

3. After a glance on Air Pollution Chart, we can make out that Japan and Panama has been significantly successful in controlling the air pollution despite being in the bracket of low income and upper middle income, which means they usually undertake higher industrial and manufacturing activities for development. It can be concluded that the controlled air pollution may be due to switching over to cleaner technologies.

4. We can see that Algeria being a high income country has the highest level of air pollution showing no reduction in 6 years. It means that they are not switching to sustainable means of production and are highly responsible in polluting the global environment

5. There is a high probability of developing respiratory infections/diseases among the people of Algeria. Some of it attributes to lack of access to cleaner technologies including cooking.

6. Panama needs to pull up its sock in order to include more people in the drive of access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking.However, it is successful in combating air pollution levels.

7. Japan ( low income country) shows exceptionally good performance in provision of clean fuels and technologies for cooking. Talking about Air pollution levels, though it is less than Algeria (high income country) but there is a long way to go in further improvement . People in Japan may have air pollution levels due to higher industrialisation and manufacturing which is necessary to move high up in the income bracket.

Note - The countries are divided in different income categories on the basis of per capita income.