Reducing
some climate pollutants could save millions of lives, says a new report by the
World Health Organization (WHO).
Gases, like soot, or black carbon, methane and the ozone
in city smog, are called “short-lived climate pollutants.” Not only do they
contribute to climate change, but they can cause ill health.
WHO says emissions from these climate pollutants cause cardiovascular
and respiratory diseases. These include heart disease, pulmonary
disease, respiratory infections and lung cancer.
The WHO says these pollutants are responsible for many of
the more than 7 million premature deaths each year that are connected to
air pollution.
The UN health group also says the pollutants can decrease
agricultural crops. These pollutants exist both outdoors and indoors.
WHO Environment Chief Maria Neira says the pollutants
have a strong impact on climate change. She says the good news is that they
only stay in the atmosphere for a few days to 10 years. That is much shorter
than carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, that can remain for hundreds, or even
thousands, of years.
”The fact that they are short-lived pollutants, when you
address them, you can reduce emissions very rapidly, and then improve both air
quality as well as slowing the rate of near term climate change. You will have
an immediate reduction in the ill-health and diseases caused by the reduction
of air pollution.”
WHO has a number of available and affordable ways to mitigate
these short-lived climate pollutants. At the top of their list: cutting
vehicle emissions by requiring higher emissions and efficiency
standards. More emissions are released when engines are running.
Indoor air pollution also contributes to bad health and
premature death. The WHO reports that nearly 3 billion low-income households
rely on “dirty fuels.” Coal, wood and kerosene used for cooking and heating are
examples. They say cleaner and more efficient stove and fuel alternatives could
cut down on the health risks.
Another way they say to cut back on these pollutants is
to have more investments and policies for rapid transit. These include buses,
trains, bicycles and pedestrian, or walking routes. They say these investments
could have many benefits, including safer travel, reduced health risks from
noise and air pollution and more physical activity.
The WHO report also calls for encouraging high- and
middle-income populations to include more plant-based foods in their diets. It
says this could reduce heart disease and some cancers. It could also slow the
methane gas production that comes with some animal-sourced foods.
I’m Anne Ball.
Lisa Schlein reported on this story for
VOANews.com. Anne Ball adapted this story for Learning English. Kathleen Struck
was the editor.
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Words in This Story
cardiovascular
– adj.
involving the heart and blood vessels
respiratory
– adj.
having to do with breathing
premature – adj. early,
before a normal time
mitigate
– v.
causing something to be less harsh
emission
– n.
act of producing or sending something from a source
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