Reducing global air pollution: The scope for further policy interventions: Achieving clean air worldwide

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Markus Amann - , International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg (Author)
  • Gregor Kiesewetter - , International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg (Author)
  • Wolfgang Schöpp - , International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg (Author)
  • Zbigniew Klimont - , International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg (Author)
  • Wilfried Winiwarter - , International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg, University of Zielona Gora (Author)
  • Janusz Cofala - , International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg (Author)
  • Peter Rafaj - , International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg (Author)
  • Lena Höglund-Isaksson - , International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg (Author)
  • Adriana Gomez-Sabriana - , International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg (Author)
  • Chris Heyes - , International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg (Author)
  • Pallav Purohit - , International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg (Author)
  • Jens Borken-Kleefeld - , International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg (Author)
  • Fabian Wagner - , International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg (Author)
  • Robert Sander - , International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg (Author)
  • Hilde Fagerli - , Norwegian Meteorological Institute (Author)
  • Agnes Nyiri - , Norwegian Meteorological Institute (Author)
  • Laura Cozzi - , Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (Author)
  • Claudia Pavarini - , Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (Author)

Abstract

Over the last decades, energy and pollution control policies combined with structural changes in the economy decoupled emission trends from economic growth, increasingly also in the developing world. It is found that effective implementation of the presently decided national pollution control regulations should allow further economic growth without major deterioration of ambient air quality, but will not be enough to reduce pollution levels in many world regions. A combination of ambitious policies focusing on pollution controls, energy and climate, agricultural production systems and addressing human consumption habits could drastically improve air quality throughout the world. By 2040, mean population exposure to PM2.5 from anthropogenic sources could be reduced by about 75% relative to 2015 and brought well below the WHO guideline in large areas of the world. While the implementation of the proposed technical measures is likely to be technically feasible in the future, the transformative changes of current practices will require strong political will, supported by a full appreciation of the multiple benefits. Improved air quality would avoid a large share of the current 3-9 million cases of premature deaths annually. At the same time, the measures that deliver clean air would also significantly reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and contribute to multiple UN sustainable development goals. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Air quality, past present and future'.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number20190331
JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences
Volume378
Issue number2183
Publication statusPublished - 30 Oct 2020
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

PubMed 32981437
ORCID /0000-0002-5465-8559/work/150883947

Keywords

Keywords

  • emission scenarios, global air pollution, health impacts, policy scenarios