According to a new study, with the introduction of strong climate action, the number of premature deaths due to air pollution might be more than 13.5 million by 2050, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The study, which was published in The Lancet Global Health, points to the immense benefits of the health of the world as a whole due to limiting global warming to 20C.
The study, carried out by researchers with among them being those at University of Texas at Austin stresses that allocation of these benefits is highly dependent on whether global climate mitigation efforts are distributed equally across the nations. In a least-cost strategy, in which emissions are minimized wherever it is most cost-effective, the developing countries would bear much of the burden, but also enjoy the most significant air quality and health benefits.
But when the rich nations assume a bigger share of reduction in the emissions in an equity-based model, fewer people will be saved in general. The reason is that the reductions in emissions would be less focussed in areas that have the greatest pollution resulting in lower health benefits within the areas.
The scholars observed that there was a complicated trade-off between climate justice and the enhancement of health. A hybrid model has been offered as one of the possible ways out of this, which puts a larger portion of the costs of mitigation to be borne by the richer countries, with the savings baked into development nations into specific air pollution control measures, such as a decrease in emissions of power stations and industrial sources.
It was a combination approach that was discovered as the most effective since it provides fairness and maximum health impact. The research concludes that properly formulated climate policies will provide both environmental and life saving benefits on a worldwide basis.
Join our whatsapp group for Latest updates
Click Here for Chhattisgarh News
Click Here for Entertainment News