The findings suggest that fossil fuels played a major role in the 38 per cent increase since 2010. The report, which has now been published in The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change, was prepared by 128 experts from 71 academic institutions and UN agencies.
Despite hard evidence, the government continues to deny that India recorded a huge number of deaths related to air pollution. However, a new report released by The Lancet shows that over 17 lakh people died due to exposure to PM 2.5 levels in the year 2022.
Climate Crisis Is A Health Crisis
The findings suggest that fossil fuels played a major role in the 38 per cent increase since 2010. The report, which has now been published in The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change, was prepared by 128 experts from 71 academic institutions and UN agencies.
Commenting on the latest report, Dr Jeremy Farrar, Assistant Director-General for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and Care at the World Health Organization (WHO), states, “The climate crisis is a health crisis. Every fraction of a degree of warming costs lives and livelihoods. This report, produced with WHO as a strategic partner, makes clear that climate inaction is killing people now in all countries. However, climate action is also the greatest health opportunity of our time. Cleaner air, healthier diets, and resilient health systems can save millions of lives now and protect current and future generations.”
Researchers further revealed that between 2001 and 2003, India lost about 2.33 million hectares of land covered by trees, of which 143,000 were listed only in 2023. And urban greenness was decreased by 3.6 per cent over the last 10 years.
Deaths Linked To Air Pollution In 2022
According to the report, fossil fuels contributed to 7,52,000 deaths in 2022, while fatalities related to coal accounted for 3,94,000, including the use of petrol contributed to 2,69,000.
Kirti Vardhan Singh, Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, told the Rajya Sabha last year, “There is no conclusive data available to establish a direct correlation of deaths due to air pollution. Air pollution is one of the many factors affecting pulmonary ailments and associated diseases.” Despite this claim by the government, similar studies have found that the impacts of poor air quality on human health are visible across various parts of our country.
Finding Solutions To Air Pollution On Human Health
Talking about the impact of pollution on human health worldwide, Dr Marina Romanello, Executive Director of the Lancet Countdown at University College London, said, “We already have the solutions at hand to avoid a climate catastrophe and communities and local governments around the world are proving that progress is possible. From clean energy growth to city adaptation, action is underway and delivering real health benefits but we must keep up the momentum.”
He added, “Rapidly phasing out fossil fuels in favour of clean renewable energy and efficient energy use remains the most powerful lever to slow climate change and protect lives. At the same time, shifting to healthier, climate-friendly diets and more sustainable agricultural systems would massively cut pollution, greenhouse gases and deforestation, potentially saving over ten million lives a year.”
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