According to research, air pollution kills 5.1 million people a year

Climate change is caused by different reasons, From the use of fossil fuels to the dumping of chemicals into water streams worldwide. According to a new study published in the scientific journal BMJ, Air pollution from the use of fossil fuels is responsible for approximately million deaths each year..

According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), millions of deaths caused by pollution are compared to the health problems caused by smoking. New research shows that every year More than 5.1 million people die due to atmospheric pollution produced by the fossil energy industry.

The article was based on 2019 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) statistics; The report suggests that 8.3 million deaths were caused by fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution in the air. Of this total, approximately 61%, or 5.1 million, is directly related to pollution caused by the overuse of fossil fuels worldwide.

“An estimated 5.13 million (3.63 to 6.32) excess deaths annually worldwide are attributable to ambient air pollution caused by fossil fuel use and are therefore potentially preventable. Phase out the use of fossil fuels. Researchers state in the study that this figure corresponds to 82% of the maximum number of deaths caused by air pollution that could be prevented by controlling all anthropogenic emissions.

Death from air pollution

The report points out that the majority of deaths in China are caused by individuals: approximately 2.4 million deaths per year. The Asian country is followed by India with 2.1 million deaths annually. Researchers claim that 82% of these deaths would be reduced by reducing and controlling all fossil fuel emissions produced by humanity.

The study suggested four scenarios for eliminating fossil fuels by 2050. First, the complete reduction of all resources related to the fossil energy industry; the second and third foresee a gradual reduction from 25% to 50%; The fourth aims to eliminate all means of pollution produced by humanity, leaving only natural sources of pollution.

“Phasing out fossil fuels is considered an effective intervention to improve health and save lives as part of the United Nations goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. Ambient air pollution will no longer be a significant risk factor for climate change.” “It would be important for health if the use of fossil fuels were replaced by equitable access to clean, renewable energy sources,” the study concludes.

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