ZERO-WASTE
“ IT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO STILL HAVE 7 MILLION PREVENTABLE DEATHS AND COUNTLESS PREVENTABLE LOST YEARS OF GOOD HEALTH ”
DR MARIA NEIRA WHO DIRECTOR , DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT , CLIMATE CHANGE AND HEALTH
almost the entire global population ( 99 % – yes , 99 %) breathes air that exceeds WHO air quality limits and threatens their health .
The right to healthy air According to the latest WHO Air Quality Database , a record number of over 6000 cities in 117 countries are now monitoring air quality , but the people living in them are still breathing unhealthy levels of fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide , with those in low and middle-income countries suffering the highest exposures .
This , despite the World Health Organisation being very clear in its advice that policies and investments supporting cleaner transport , energy-efficient homes , power generation , industry and better municipal waste management would reduce key sources of outdoor air pollution .
“ After surviving a pandemic , it is unacceptable to still have 7 million preventable deaths and countless preventable lost years of good health due to air pollution . That ’ s what we ’ re saying when we look at the mountain of air pollution data , evidence , and solutions available . Yet , too many investments are still being sunk into a polluted environment rather than in clean , healthy air ,” said Dr Maria Neira , WHO Director , Department of Environment , Climate Change and Health .
“ Often , when we discuss the dangers of fossil fuel combustion , it ’ s in the context of CO2 and climate change , overlooking the potential health impact of the pollutants co-emitted with greenhouse gases ,” says Dr . Joel Schwartz , Professor at Harvard Chan School and co-author of the study . “ We hope that , by quantifying the health consequences of fossil fuel combustion , we can send a clear message to policymakers and stakeholders of the benefits of a transition to alternative energy sources .”
In response to its latest findings , The World Health Organisation made the very same point : that many of the drivers of air pollution – for example the combustion of fossil fuels – are also sources of greenhouse gas emissions . It also said that policies to reduce air pollution “ therefore offer a win-win strategy for both climate and health , lowering the burden of disease attributable to air pollution , as well as contributing to the near- and long-term mitigation of climate change ”. sustainabilitymag . com 73