Apr 10, 2013
The shift would bring about a dramatic reduction in air pollution, which the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) warned was one of "the greatest hazards to human health."
The UN pointed to the burning of fossil fuels--including oil and natural gas production and diesel engine exhaust--as culprits in outdoor air pollution, which Dr. Maria Neira, the WHO's Director of Public Health and Environment, told a meeting of the UN Environment Programme's (UNEP) Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) was responsible for "3.3 million deaths every year."
"If we increase access to clean energy ... the health benefits will be enormous," Neira told Reuters, and warned that the number of deaths from air pollution would rise with continued dependence on fossil fuels.
In addition to the pollution outdoors, indoor air pollution was cited for its deadly effects.
Neira said "estimations we have now tell us there are 3.5 million premature deaths every year caused by household air pollution."
Inefficient cook stoves are a major source of indoor air pollution, which the UN said can release "carbon monoxide and other pollutants at levels up to 100 times higher than the recommended limits set by WHO."
The dangers of air pollution, indoor and out, are truly deadly and far worse than previously thought, the UN said.
Kandeh Yumkella, director general of the U.N. Industrial Development Organization, gave this sobering assessment: "Air pollution is causing more deaths than HIV or malaria combined."
_________________________
Join Us: News for people demanding a better world
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. Join with us today! |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
The shift would bring about a dramatic reduction in air pollution, which the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) warned was one of "the greatest hazards to human health."
The UN pointed to the burning of fossil fuels--including oil and natural gas production and diesel engine exhaust--as culprits in outdoor air pollution, which Dr. Maria Neira, the WHO's Director of Public Health and Environment, told a meeting of the UN Environment Programme's (UNEP) Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) was responsible for "3.3 million deaths every year."
"If we increase access to clean energy ... the health benefits will be enormous," Neira told Reuters, and warned that the number of deaths from air pollution would rise with continued dependence on fossil fuels.
In addition to the pollution outdoors, indoor air pollution was cited for its deadly effects.
Neira said "estimations we have now tell us there are 3.5 million premature deaths every year caused by household air pollution."
Inefficient cook stoves are a major source of indoor air pollution, which the UN said can release "carbon monoxide and other pollutants at levels up to 100 times higher than the recommended limits set by WHO."
The dangers of air pollution, indoor and out, are truly deadly and far worse than previously thought, the UN said.
Kandeh Yumkella, director general of the U.N. Industrial Development Organization, gave this sobering assessment: "Air pollution is causing more deaths than HIV or malaria combined."
_________________________
The shift would bring about a dramatic reduction in air pollution, which the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) warned was one of "the greatest hazards to human health."
The UN pointed to the burning of fossil fuels--including oil and natural gas production and diesel engine exhaust--as culprits in outdoor air pollution, which Dr. Maria Neira, the WHO's Director of Public Health and Environment, told a meeting of the UN Environment Programme's (UNEP) Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) was responsible for "3.3 million deaths every year."
"If we increase access to clean energy ... the health benefits will be enormous," Neira told Reuters, and warned that the number of deaths from air pollution would rise with continued dependence on fossil fuels.
In addition to the pollution outdoors, indoor air pollution was cited for its deadly effects.
Neira said "estimations we have now tell us there are 3.5 million premature deaths every year caused by household air pollution."
Inefficient cook stoves are a major source of indoor air pollution, which the UN said can release "carbon monoxide and other pollutants at levels up to 100 times higher than the recommended limits set by WHO."
The dangers of air pollution, indoor and out, are truly deadly and far worse than previously thought, the UN said.
Kandeh Yumkella, director general of the U.N. Industrial Development Organization, gave this sobering assessment: "Air pollution is causing more deaths than HIV or malaria combined."
_________________________
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.