Pollution is a deadly and silent enemy. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is one of the biggest contributors to global warming, and a new study has yielded chilling information: at least 300 thousand people died prematurely for the consequences of pollution and climate change in Europe.
The European Environment Agency was in charge of the report, which analyzed the impact of three key pollutants: fine particles, nitrogen dioxide and ozone. However, the report noted that air quality in Europe was better in 2019 than the previous year, but that did not stop people from dying.
But it concluded that air pollution is one of the leading causes of illness and death, usually from heart disease, stroke, lung diseases or lung cancer, and the increased risk to environmental health of Europe.
Breathing clean air should be a right
“Breathing clean air should be a fundamental human right. It is a necessary condition for healthy and productive societies,” said the regional director for Europe of the World Health Organization, Hans Kluge. He explained that there is still a long way to go on this issue.
In this regard, the executive director of the European Environment Agency, Hans Bruyninckx, considered that investing in cleaner heating, mobility, agriculture and industry offers better health, productivity and quality of life for all Europeans and especially for the most vulnerable. “These investments save lives and also help accelerate progress towards carbon neutrality and strong biodiversity,” he concluded.
However, the European Environment Agency noted that air quality improved in 2020 as a result of containment measures introduced to control the spread of Covid-19, qwhich led to a reduction in emissions from transport, combined with favorable weather conditions. However, many experts believe that levels will skyrocket once everything is back to normal.
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