Importance of Clean Air
‘Air pollution is a global problem, which impacts human health, planetary health and climate change,”
~ Inger Andersen, Executive Director, UNEP
Clean air is air that has no harmful levels of pollutants. Environmental dialogue is too focused on what is visible to the naked eye. After all, it’s hard to ignore campaigns that show discarded plastic waste on the beach, or toxic froth in our lakes. But what’s hard to show are the harmful effects of low air quality. On a hot, windless day, the air can feel heavy and have a bad odour. Sometimes, the air may make your chest feel tight, or make you cough. When too much dirt and chemicals get into the air, it becomes dirty or polluted. Contrary to this, clean air saves lives. It also contributes to economic prosperity, by reducing healthcare costs and boosting productivity. Several acts and amendments have been implemented to purify the ambient air quality in every shape but with the ever increasing need of mankind, ambient air quality status deteriorated in decades.
FIG: Different scenarios of clean and polluted air
Air pollution can be defined as changes in air quality that can be detected by measurements of chemical, biological or physical pollutants in the air. Thus, air pollution refers to the unwanted presence of pollutants or abnormal rise in the concentration of certain atmospheric substances. It can be classified into 2 categories: visible and invisible air pollution. Out of many local causes such as volcanic eruptions, dust storms , wildfire, air pollution is mainly backed by many anthropogenic causes starting with combustion of fossil fuels, emissions from industries and factories, agricultural activities , waste production . Sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) contributes significantly to 85% of particulate matter (PM) emissions in the atmosphere. Within the energy sector, energy production and industry are major sources of SO2. The fuel used for transportation, firstly diesel, makes up more than half of the world’s NOx emissions, which can cause respiratory problems and the formation of other harmful particles and pollutants, including ozone. These pollutants are linked to industry and urbanization, and coal and oil are key sources (natural gas emits less air pollution than other fuels, or biomass) and processing the discharge, is subject to a large number of PMs reaching the atmosphere. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) , sulphur and nitrogen oxides (pre-ozone) are very dangerous to human health and are associated with various diseases. Unchecked coal and oil fires in power stations, industrial plants and automobiles are a major cause of environmental / external pollution associated with the premature death of about 3 million people each year.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called air pollution a “silent public health emergency” during the First World Health Organization (WHO) Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health. Strategies aimed at improved air quality are directly linked to climate change objectives, access to clean energy services, waste management, and other aspects of social and economic development. The continuation of current policies in key emissions means that many sustainability targets are unlikely to be achieved in the next two decades: emissions can cause as much as 40% premature deaths from outside air pollution today.
The Clean Air Scenario (CAS) sets out a plausible strategy based on existing technologies and proven policies, to cut 2040 pollutant emissions by more than half compared with NPS. This policy path is one in which the energy sector takes determined action, coordinated effectively with others, to deliver a comprehensive overall improvement in air quality.
Global Action Plan have detailed their top three actions to lower air pollution:
● Improve public understanding of air pollution.
● Build awareness of how air pollution affects our health.
● Explain the easy actions we can all do to tackle air pollution, helping to protect the environment and our health.
Another way to reduce air pollution is to consume less. While a lot of the focus is on shopping more sustainably and opting for more eco-friendly produce and goods, the very best thing you can do is to lower your consumption overall. This can include the amount of food, clothes and other items you buy. Along with that, espousing less emission mode of traveling over times when not in urgency can aid to reduce emission, an eco-friendly touch from our conscience.
About the Author
Anusreeta Dutta is a student of post graduation pursuing masters in M.Sc Environment Management at Forest Research Institute , Dehradun .