Actual order with your choice

Global ranking of risk factors by total number of deaths, 2019

High systolic blood pressure

10.8

Millions

Smoking

7.7

Millions

Air pollution

6.7

Millions

High fasting plasma glucose

6.6

Millions

High body mass index

5.0

Millions

Source: Health Effects Institute (2020), State of Global Air 2020. Special Report.¹⁷

Table 2: WHO recommended air quality guidelines

Pollutant	Averaging Time	2005 AQGs	2021 AQGs
PM2.5	Annual	10	5
PM2.5	24-hour	25	15
PM10	Annual	20	15
PM10	24-hour	50	45
Ozone (O3)	Peak Season	-	60
Ozone (O3)	8-hour	100	100
Nitrogen oxide	Annual	40	10
Nitrogen oxide	24-hour	-	25
Sulphur dioxide	24-hour	20	40
Carbon Monoxide	24-hour	-	4

Source: IQAir²⁹

* New averaging time for 2021 | + Peak season - average of daily maximum 8-hour mean ozone concentration during the six consecutive months with the highest six-month running-average of ozone concentration NO₂ 1-hour average, SO₂ 10 minute average, and CO₂ 8-hour, 1-hour, and 15-minute averages unchanged from previous recommendations. Source: World Health Organization

Chart11: Investments in energy infrastructure,
renewables vs conventional, % share, Asia

100%

75%

50%

25%

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Renewables

Conventional Power

Source: IJGlobal

Asia in Focus:

Clean Air and
the business
and human
rights agenda

Asia in Focus:

Clean Air and
the business
and human
rights agenda

Introduction

On April 3rd 2020, residents of Jalandhar, India, a city in the northern state of Punjab woke to the majestic sight of the glimmering Himalayan peaks against a backdrop of clear blue skies.⁷ So rare was this phenomenon that Himachal Tourism—the regional government’s official tourism body—posted it as a leading news story of the day. The headline read simply, “Jalandhar residents have a view of snow-capped mountains.”^8,9 According to experts, the sighting of these mountains, some 200km from the city, was due to an unexpected shift in the air quality from “hazardous” to “good”. A national lockdown imposed from March 25th 2020 to help control the spread of the covid-19 virus resulted in the immediate suspension of all transport and construction activities, drastically reducing air pollution in urban areas across the country.

99%

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that close to 99%¹⁰ of the global population is exposed to unhealthy air.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that close to 99%¹⁰ of the global population is exposed to unhealthy air. While air pollution is a challenge in many cities across the world, the problem is much more severe in Asia. Approximately four billion people—92% of the Asia-Pacific region's population—are exposed to levels of air pollution that pose a significant risk to their health.¹¹ South and East Asian locations emerge as the most polluted, with Bangladesh, China, India, and Pakistan sharing 49 of the 50 most polluted cities worldwide and experiencing the worst air quality in the region.¹² Key sources of air pollution in Asia include particulate matter emissions from the burning of fossil fuels—for electricity generation and transportation fuel—and agricultural crop burning, among others. Even with the reduction of economic activity due to covid-19 lockdowns, 32% of cities in India, 67% of cities in Pakistan and 80% of cities in Bangladesh experienced ‘unhealthy’ air quality.¹³ In 2020, air pollution resulted in a loss of 7.4% of South Asia’s GDP and accounted for 13-22% of deaths in the South Asia region.¹⁴

4 billion

Approximately four billion people—92% of the Asia-Pacific region's population—are exposed to levels of air pollution that pose a significant risk to their health.¹¹

Worsening air quality has significant public health consequences for current and future generations. Data from the Air Quality Index reveals that four South Asian countries—Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan—account for 60% of the person-years lost globally at current pollution levels and that compliance with WHO air pollution guidelines would increase life expectancy by an average of five years in these countries.¹⁵ Air pollution can also have consequences over several generations as exposure to air pollution among women has been identified as a major risk to female reproductive health. A recent study conducted on women of reproductive age concluded that exposure to atmospheric sulphur dioxide leads to a lower antral follicle count (ovarian reserve) among women, which adversely affects female fertility.¹⁶ Other risks, such as preterm births, adverse birth outcomes and higher rates of infant mortality have also been linked to high pollution concentration.

60%

Data from the Air Quality Index reveals that four South Asian countries—Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan—account for 60% of the person-years lost globally at current pollution levels and that compliance with WHO air pollution guidelines would increase life expectancy by an average of five years in these countries.

Moving from grey skies to blue: why the noise now?

Air pollution is a long-standing environmental issue. However, over the past decade, mounting scientific evidence has cast a spotlight on the long-term economic and health consequences of prolonged exposure to air pollution. Among the most important features of the science include:

The magnitude of the problem: Close to 99% of the global population is exposed to air that does not meet WHO air quality standards. Middle-income countries have experienced an alarming rise in air pollution levels as a result of rapid urbanisation and economic development, most of which rely on the burning of fossil fuels. Consequently, middle-income countries also account for more than 80% of global deaths resulting from air pollution. In 2019, air pollution was the third leading cause of premature mortality worldwide.

The growing evidence of health impacts: Over the past two decades, the body of scientific evidence on the impact of air pollution on human health has grown, making it clear that exposure to ambient air pollution can have long-term adverse health impacts. In 2013, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified outdoor air pollution and particulate matter as carcinogenic.¹⁸ Air pollution has since become a leading cause of lung cancer, affecting even the non-smoking population.¹⁹ Between 2005 and 2019, the total number of global deaths attributable to air pollution increased by 40%.²⁰

Source: Global Burden of Disease Collaborative Network (2021), Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.²¹

Source: Global Burden of Disease Collaborative Network (2021), Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.²²

The accessibility of the science: Air pollution is a complex issue that requires scientific methodologies to understand. The technical nature of discussions has, until recently, been confined to scientific circles. However, as the debilitating impacts of air pollution have become more evident, matters have shifted into mainstream media, where the science is simplified.

The link with climate change: The issues of air pollution and climate change are closely intertwined. The burning of fossil fuels not only releases the greenhouse gases that cause climate change but also the particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide that cause air pollution. According to the WHO, “Improving air quality can enhance climate change mitigation efforts, while reducing emissions will, in turn, improve air quality”.²³

What do you think is the lowest risk factor?

Drag and drop the risk factors in the right order

High systolic blood pressure

Air pollution

Smoking

High body mass index

High fasting plasma glucose

Lowest

Drop here

Highest

See result and data

Source: Health Effects Institute (2020), State of Global Air 2020. Special Report.¹⁷

Global ranking of risk factors by total number of deaths, 2019

High systolic blood pressure

10.8

Millions

Smoking

7.7

Millions

Air pollution

6.7

Millions

High fasting plasma glucose

6.6

Millions

High body mass index

5.0

Millions

Source: Health Effects Institute (2020), State of Global Air 2020. Special Report.¹⁷

With these facts in mind, many Asian governments have responded robustly, and have developed policies to address air pollution in a coordinated manner. Still, it is too early to say that the tide is turning on air pollution in Asia. Will the next decade see a reduction in health and environmental risks linked to air pollution? And will people reap the economic benefits that environmental activists have been claiming will surely flow if air pollution is mitigated?

Though the answers are not definitive, it is clear that coordinated action from all stakeholders will be required to implement meaningful air pollution mitigation measures.

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Asia in Focus:

Clean Air and the business and human rights agenda

Asia in Focus:

Clean Air and the business and human rights agenda

Introduction

99%

4 billion

60%

Moving from grey skies to blue: why the noise now?

What do you think is the lowest risk factor?

References

Clean Air and
the business
and human
rights agenda

Clean Air and
the business
and human
rights agenda