Philippines tackles air pollution

After six years of governmental wrangling and a massive nationwide campaign to gather signatures, the Philippines—home to one of the world's most polluted cities—is on the verge of passing clean air legislation.

The population of Manila has grown faster than that in any other city since 1970 and now stands at at least 12 million, with 12600 people to each square kilometre. Thousands live in the shadow of power stations or industrial plants. Smog constantly blankets the city, 2.2 million motor vehicles form traffic jams, and pedestrians keep handkerchiefs clamped over their mouths and …