Topic: 2025 – Impact of Climate Change on Air Quality
Country: Algeria
Delegate Name: Ethan Han
Climate change is arguably the most pressing environmental challenge we face today. For Algeria, the impact of a warming climate stretches far beyond merely rising temperatures, but also threatens air quality, public health, and national stability. As the general heat level increases, wildfires intensify, desert dust worsens, and pollution becomes increasingly harder to manage. Algeria recognizes that air quality decline is not only an environmental harm but a barrier to sustainable development, energy transition, and sovereignty. Considering these implications, Algeria’s position on this issue is based on practicality, flexibility, and equity.
In recent years, Algeria has taken steps to manage its own air quality and climate risks through its National Climate Plan and its ongoing energy transition strategy. Algeria faces severe climate pressures, with the Sahara pushing northward, recurring wildfires, and dust storms that heavily affect PM10 and PM2.5 levels. Cities located in the coast such as Algiers and Oran suffer from vehicle emissions and industrial pollution. These overlapping challenges reveal a pressing challenge as climate adaptation is needed, but addressing air pollution without financial and technical support will be extremely difficult. Algeria, therefore, believes that any solution to air quality must be aligned with sustainable development and realistic national capabilities.
Algeria’s three core requirements for a plan addressing climate-related air quality are that, firstly, solutions must support sustainable development. Cleaner air cannot come at the expense of economic stability. Programs such as clean cooking access, wildfire prevention, and alternatives to crop-burning must provide real benefits for rural and vulnerable communities. Secondly, environmental standards must account for national capacity. Strict regulations without assistance risk marginalizing states with less advanced infrastructure, especially when many African and Global South nations contribute the least to the crisis yet face the greatest harm. Algeria will oppose proposals that impose rigid requirements without financing, technology transfer, or phased implementation. Thirdly, national sovereignty remains central. Air quality and climate strategies must respect each country’s right to manage its own resources, and environmental priorities without overdependence on foreign systems.
Algeria’s policy objectives include the development of Green Air Quality Infrastructure and the creation of an International Financing and Technical Support Mechanism. These programs, guided by UNEP, should issue recommendations on industrial emission controls, clean energy integration, and sustainable urban planning, while providing the resources and support necessary for implementation. In addition, Algeria advocates for an environmental reporting framework that tracks air pollution sources. Algeria supports ongoing efforts such as the UNEP Air Pollution Legislation Assessment and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition. These frameworks already guide cooperative solutions and Algeria calls for Global South Pilot Programs which would test innovative air-quality management models under real conditions, and is willing to host or participate in these programs. With climate change intensifying air-quality challenges, Algeria urges the international community to pursue solutions that are sustainable, equitable, and supportive of developing states. Algeria is committed and stands ready to collaborate with all nations to bring about a cleaner, healthier, and environmentally sound future that benefits every nation.
Works Cited:
https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2025/03/27/cleaner-air-is-within-reach-by-2040-new-report
https://wedocs.unep.org/items/1ed450e4-8f00-4133-9248-a9f2cb4a4666
https://wedocs.unep.org/items/767d1aca-6ad0-488b-a203-1a38e9c3da5b
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ambient-(outdoor)-air-quality-and-health
