Editing Geography of Lebanon (section)

===Air quality in Lebanon===
[[File:Flagship air monitoring station in Beirut.jpg|thumb|EU-funded air monitoring in Beirut]]
As a result of increasingly hot summers and its location within the Mediterranean region, which is often cited for having long episodes of pollution, Lebanon, Beirut in particular, is at high risk for air pollution.<ref name= "Saliba">{{cite journal |last1=Saliba |first1=N. A. |last2=Moussa |first2=S. |last3=Salame |first3=H. |last4=El-Fadel |first4=M. |title=Variation of selected air quality indicators over the city of Beirut, Lebanon: Assessment of emission sources |journal=Atmospheric Environment |date=June 2006 |volume=40 |issue=18 |pages=3263–3268 |doi=10.1016/j.atmosenv.2006.01.054 |bibcode=2006AtmEn..40.3263S }}</ref> Approximately 93 percent of Beirut's population is exposed to high levels of air pollution, which can most often be attributed to vehicle-induced emissions, whether it be long-range travel or short commuting traffic.<ref name= "Saliba" /><ref name="AUB">{{Cite web |url=http://www.aub.edu.lb/news/Pages/air-pollution-beirutis.aspx |title=Al-Azar, Maha. "AUB Air Pollution Study: Almost All Beirutis Exposed to High Levels of Air Pollution." American University of Beirut. N.p., 7 May 2011. Web. |access-date=16 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224015414/http://www.aub.edu.lb/news/Pages/air-pollution-beirutis.aspx |archive-date=24 December 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The cost of air pollution to health may exceed ten million dollars a year.<ref name= "AUB" /> The levels of air pollution in Beirut are increasing annually, and were already above acceptable WHO (World Health Organization) standards by 2011.<ref name= "AUB" /> The most noted pollution in Beirut is particulate matter (street dust), chemicals in the air, and vehicle exhaust. Air pollution is exacerbated by city structure and inadequate urban management as indicated by high buildings on narrow streets, which contain air pollutants.<ref name= "AUB" /> Some recommendations for improvement of air quality include encouragement of carpooling and citywide biking, alternative fuels for vehicles, and a widened public transit sector.<ref name= "AUB" />

The question of air quality has received considerable attention and funding by Lebanon's foreign partners. Between 2013 and 2017, the Lebanese ministry of environment was granted a donation of over 10 million Euros by Greece and the European Union to establish a national air monitoring network, which included at its peak 25 stations.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Lebanon's air pollution nears alarming level - Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East |url=https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2019/07/lebanon-budget-cuts-environment-air-monitoring-pollution.html |access-date=2022-05-11 |website=www.al-monitor.com |language=en}}</ref> This network was launched in October 2017 at a major event bringing together 26 different institutions;<ref>{{Cite web |title=EU supports Lebanon in its quest for a cleaner air {{!}} EU Neighbours |url=https://www.euneighbours.eu/en/south/stay-informed/news/eu-supports-lebanon-its-quest-cleaner-air |access-date=2022-05-11 |website=www.euneighbours.eu |language=en}}</ref> it was to serve as the cornerstone of Lebanon's National Strategy for Air Quality Management, which was released at the end of the same year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lebanon's National Air Quality Management Strategy 2015-2030 |url=http://www.databank.com.lb/docs/MoE-(2017)-National-Air-Quality-Management-Strategy-EN.pdf |access-date=2022-05-11 |archive-date=2019-07-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713101438/http://www.databank.com.lb/docs/MoE-(2017)-National-Air-Quality-Management-Strategy-EN.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> By mid-2019, however, the ministry of environment ceased to maintain and operate this network, involving budgetary restrictions.<ref name=":1" /> Stations were subsequently looted, even in central Beirut.