Air pollution from fossil fuels ‘kills 5 million people a year’
Air pollution from fossil fuels ‘kills 5 million people a year’ The Guardian
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Air Pollution from Fossil Fuels Causes 5 Million Deaths Annually, Study Finds
Air pollution from the use of fossil fuels is responsible for the deaths of 5 million people worldwide each year, according to the largest study of its kind. This death toll is significantly higher than previously estimated.
The findings, published on the eve of the Cop28 climate summit in Dubai, highlight the urgent need for world leaders to take action. One of the key decisions to be made at the UN conference is whether to agree to gradually “phase out” fossil fuels, a move that could help combat global heating and save lives from air pollution.
Sustainable Development Goals and the Impact of Fossil Fuels
The study, published in The BMJ, reveals that air pollution caused by the use of fossil fuels in industry, power generation, and transportation leads to 5.1 million avoidable deaths annually worldwide. This accounts for 61% of the total estimated 8.3 million deaths due to outdoor air pollution from all sources in 2019.
The new estimates of fossil fuel-related deaths are higher than previous values, suggesting that phasing out fossil fuels could have a greater impact on mortality rates than previously thought. The researchers emphasize that a global phase-out of fossil fuels would have significant health benefits, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations for 2030 and the goal of climate neutrality by 2050.
Addressing Air Pollution and the Need for Renewable Energy
Ambient air pollution is the leading environmental health risk factor for illness and death, yet there is a lack of global studies attributing deaths to specific air pollution sources. To address this, an international team of researchers from the UK, US, Germany, Spain, and Cyprus developed a new model to estimate deaths caused by air pollution related to fossil fuels.
Using data from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 study, Nasa satellite-based fine particulate matter and population data, as well as atmospheric chemistry and relative risk modeling, the researchers assessed excess deaths in 2019. Their results indicate that 8.3 million deaths worldwide were attributable to fine particles (PM2.5) and ozone (O3) in ambient air, with 61% (5.1 million) linked to fossil fuels.
The researchers emphasize the potential health benefits of major reductions in air pollution emissions, particularly through the phase-out of fossil fuels. They highlight that replacing fossil fuels with clean, renewable energy sources would not only have significant public health benefits but also contribute to achieving climate neutrality as outlined in the Paris climate agreement.
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