A new WHO report has called for an urgent need to reduce emissions of black carbon, ozone and methane — as well as carbon dioxide — which all contribute to climate change. Frequently described as short-lived climate pollutants, these “climate killers” not only produce a strong global warming effect, but claim more than seven million premature deaths annually.
The report, Reducing global health risks through mitigation of short-lived climate pollutants, reveals that interventions to cut SLCPs can reduce disease and death and contribute to food security, improve diets and increase physical activity.
“Every day, these pollutants threaten the health of men, women and children,” says Dr Flavia Bustreo, assistant director-general at WHO. “For the first time, this report recommends actions that countries, health and environment ministries, and cities can take right now to reduce emissions, protect health and avoid illness and premature deaths, which often take the greatest toll on the most vulnerable.”
The report builds off a 2011 assessment by the UN Environment Programme and World Meteorological Organisation that estimated that a global deployment of 16 SLCP reduction measures would prevent an average of 2.4 million premature deaths annually by 2030.
New estimates could raise that to 3.5 million lives saved annually by 2030, and between 3 to 5 million lives per year by 2050.
The report calls for reducing vehicle emissions by implementing higher emissions and efficiency standards. It also suggests providing cleaner and more efficient stove and fuel alternatives to the approximately 2.8 billion low-income households worldwide dependent on primarily wood, dung and other solid fuels for heating and cooking.
The WHO has also stressed on the need to have policies and investments that prioritise dedicated rapid transit such as buses and trains and foster safe pedestrian and cycle networks can promote multiple benefits, including: safer active travel and reduced health risks from air and noise pollution, physical inactivity, and road traffic injuries.
The WHO also suggested encouraging high and middle-income populations to increase their consumption of nutritious plant-based foods could reduce heart disease and some cancers, and slow methane emissions associated with some animal-sourced foods.
The step gains significance as in May 2015, the World Health Assembly adopted a resolution to address the health impacts of air pollution.
