Pollution, biodiversity loss, climate change are silent killers: There's a solution

WE ARE ALL EXPOSED: Pollution is widespread. We are exposed to it every day. It is a silent killer. Whether it is exposure to fumes, microplastics or trace chemicals in food, we have come to accept these as part of “development”. But it’s never too late to address its negative impacts on our health and economy.

MODERN FORMS OF POLLUTION | The Lancet Commission on Pollution and Health report named pollution as the “largest environmental cause of disease and premature death in the world” today. “Over the past two decades, deaths caused by the modern forms of pollution have increased by 66 per cent,” the Lancet Planetary Health study stated. The key drivers: industrialisation, uncontrolled urbanisation, population growth, fossil fuel combustion, and an absence of adequate national or international chemical policy.

9 MILLION DEATHS FROM POLLUTION: The numbers are staggering. Pollution is seen behind the estimated 9 million premature deaths in 2015 — 16% of all deaths worldwide. Globally, air pollution causes over 6.5 million deaths each year; lead and other chemicals are responsible for 1.8 million deaths. Pollution-related deaths is three times more deaths than from AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria combined, according to the Lancet report. It is 15 times more than from all wars and other forms of violence. Furthermore, the welfare losses due to pollution have been estimated at more than $4.6 trillion per year, equivalent to 6.2% of global economic output.

SELF-EVIDENT | Pollution as a result of exposure to lead and other chemicals are responsible for 1.8 million deaths. Increases in pollution-related deaths are especially evident in south Asia, east Asia, and southeast Asia. In Africa, household air pollution and water pollution are still the main causes of pollution-related disease and death.

TOXIC AIR | More than 90 per cent of pollution-related deaths happen in low- and middle-income countries. WHO data show that almost all of the global population (99%) breathe air that exceeds WHO guideline limits and contains high levels of pollutants.

SUFFERING | Although high-income countries have controlled their worst forms of pollution, only a few low-income and middle-income countries have been able to make pollution a priority, devoted resources to pollution control, or made progress. The poorest countries suffer the most due to pollution, with 92% of all pollution-related deaths happening in low- and middle-income countries. Children and the elderly are hit the hardest.

DEADLY TRIAD | The triad of pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss are closely linked but they are largely ignored in the international development, the researchers said. "Successful control of these conjoined threats requires a globally supported, formal science–policy interface to inform intervention, influence research, and guide funding,” the researchers added.

WHAT CAN WE DO? | Researchers in the study said urgent attention is required to control pollution and prevent pollution-related disease, adding that countries should do more to deal with this enormous public health problem. There are measures already in place to curb pollution. These include innovation, design, public-private collaboration, investment in pollution control, and regulation.

DESIGN/INNOVATION: Design is critical for preventing pollution, from reusing, recycling and reducing use of raw materials. From the products we use, what powers our homes and vehicles, the nutrients that help our food grow. Designing in sync with nature is possible in most sectors. One example: Fairphone, a quality 5G smartphone made with recycled materials and a 5-year warranty. These approaches have proven both possible and profitable. The UAE and Europe are both leading the pack in scaling renewable energy.

PUBLIC-PRIVATE COLLABORATION: Government-private partnerships are critical to accelerating the development of clean technologies which prevent pollution at its source. A strong commitment to the transition has helped drive innovation and rapidly cut cost. As a result, electricity from photovoltaic panels today costs almost a quarter of what it did in 2009. In many markets, it’s become cheaper than conventional electricity sources in some, even in places like China and India, which are rapidly installing coal plants. The UAE's Al Dhafra Solar is not only the world's biggest solar project; it is also the cheapest.

RENEWABLES: Another example of positive outcome of public-private collaboration is the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer, signed 30 years ago, which led to the phase out chemicals known to delete the ozone layer. Today, 197 countries have joined the protocol. The result: 99% of nearly 100 ozone-depleting chemicals had been phased out. This approach can be replicated.

POLICY DIRECTION: The push for renewable transport is one example energy policy plays a central role in “decarbonisation”, including all options to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and make transport cleaner, including low (-fossil)-carbon energy carriers and battery powered transport. While economics and markets do play a role, policymakers play the central role. Many governments are taking active role in the transition towards renewables. Energy policies have been seen effective in several sectors and countries to deliver key results so far – for cars, appliances, lighting, wind and solar PV in power.