Governments Must Take Action on Air Quality, Says Report

A new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) has urged governments to take action on air pollution and not just leave the topic for the private sector to tackle.

The IEA, which normally confines itself to statistics on energy production and the resultant greenhouse gas (GhG) emissions, has alleged that an incremental increase in investment could solve the problem over the coming years and pay for itself in the economic benefits it would offer.

The extent of the problem

The most recent studies show that at least 6.5 million people a year die from air pollution, while countless others are harmed by it in the form of respiratory and cardiovascular ailments. It has now risen to become the fourth-highest killer worldwide, behind high blood pressure, a bad diet and a reliance on tobacco.

The problem is especially significant in developing countries, where people are more at risk of exposure to harmful levels of pollution. Indeed, India has 22 of the world's 50 dirtiest cities – and the pollution doesn’t only affect health. Work hours have to be restricted due to poor visibility and unbreathable conditions, meaning the loss of billions of pounds from the economy.

“Air pollution does not get the attention it deserves,” explained Fatih Birol, the IEA’s executive director. “It is a global problem, and it is extremely important. It is a crisis.”

Where it comes from

The vast majority of air pollution comes from energy production and consumption. Indeed, the IEA estimates that 85% of all particulate matter (PM) pollution and almost all of the sulphur oxide (SOx) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) pollution can be traced back to the energy sector.

Much of this comes from industrial power plants, which spew out vast amounts of contaminants on a daily basis. Though the UK implemented a directive to address the issue several years ago, developing countries around the world do not have such health and safety infrastructures in place. What’s more, the over-reliance on wood-burning stoves and waste combustion is contributing to indoor air pollution in developing nations, as well. Currently, around 2.7 billion people worldwide rely on wood as their primary fuel source.

Another contributing factor which should not be underestimated is agriculture. Earlier this year, it was found that fertilisers were the single biggest cause of air pollution in Europe due to their ability to mix with other compounds and create harmful particles in the air. They can also be dispersed easily by the wind.

What can be done

While the private sector will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in cleaning up our atmosphere, flexibility is key to solving air pollution abatement challenges and the government must act, as well.

Crucially, they must introduce policies which encourage green energy technologies and punish polluting methods of energy generation or use. This, in conjunction with cooperation with other nations, is the only way in which real, meaningful change will be brought about.