Coordinated action on air pollution and climate change could generate about $15 in economic benefits for every $1 invested, according to a new United Nations-backed assessment.
The report by the UN Environment Programme and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition examines 25 measures across energy, transport, industry, agriculture, cooking, heating and waste management.
It says the same measures that reduce greenhouse-gas emissions can also cut pollutants that damage human health, making joint action more effective than treating the two problems separately.
The assessment estimates that implementing the package could prevent 144 million premature deaths linked to air pollution by 2050. It also projects reductions in new cases of childhood asthma, dementia, heart disease, stroke and other illnesses.
The report says immediate implementation could halve carbon dioxide emissions by 2050, reduce methane emissions by 60% and cut several major air pollutants by about 70% against its baseline scenario.
The measures include renewable power, energy efficiency, cleaner cooking, stronger vehicle emissions standards, electric vehicles, lower-sulphur shipping fuel and reductions in oil and gas leaks.
Economic benefits include avoided health costs, higher productivity and lower damage from pollution and climate change. Even when non-market benefits such as longer life are excluded, the assessment estimates a return of about $4 for every $1 spent.
The report was released on the International Day of Clean Air for blue skies. South Africa marked the day with environmental and electronic-waste activities in Tshwane.
