Air pollution: Climate action can prevent 1m premature deaths annually

A new research carried out by the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy and the New Climate Institute shows that climate action, such as doubling bus network coverage and frequency in cities, could prevent the premature deaths of over one million people per year from air pollution and traffic accidents.

According to the report, climate action, which includes energy efficiency retrofits in buildings, enhanced bus networks and renewable energy initiatives, could generate 13.7 million jobs in cities and save 40 billion hours of commuters’ time plus billions of dollars in reduced household expenses each year.

The report authors argued that climate policies lead to positive public health and economic outcomes across countries and regions.

Some of the findings of the study include investments in residential energy efficiency retrofits which could result in a net creation of 5.4 million jobs in cities across the globe.

“Such investments would also result in significant household savings, as well as emissions reductions,” they said, adding that improved public transport could prevent the premature deaths of nearly one million people per year from air pollution and traffic fatalities worldwide.

“Improved transport networks could also save 40 billion hours of commuters’ time every year by 2030, while achieving important emissions reductions,” the report said.

Climate action policies can have proportionally greater outcomes for lower income groups in developing cities, where populations have the most to gain from the introduction of new technologies.