By Abdullahi Lukman
Coordinated action to tackle air pollution and climate change could generate major health, economic and environmental benefits, according to a new assessment by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC).
The report, Hidden Assets: The Economic and Health Case for Climate and Clean Air Action, identifies 25 proven measures across energy, transport, industry, agriculture, household cooking and heating, and waste management.
It estimates that implementing the measures could generate annual benefits equivalent to 2.8 per cent of global GDP by 2035, rising to 4.5 per cent by 2050 and 11.4 per cent by 2100. Even without accounting for the value of longer and healthier lives, the measures could return about $4 for every dollar invested.
The assessment, released on 7 September to mark the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, says addressing climate change and air pollution together delivers greater benefits because many of their causes and solutions overlap.
Recommended actions include expanding renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, promoting electric vehicles, adopting cleaner cooking and heating technologies, strengthening vehicle emission standards, reducing oil and gas leaks and improving agricultural practices.
The report also highlights the serious health consequences of air pollution. In 2025, human-caused outdoor air pollution was linked to an estimated 6.4 million premature deaths worldwide, while household air pollution accounted for another two million deaths.
Full implementation of the measures could prevent an estimated 144 million air-pollution-related premature deaths by 2050 and reduce hundreds of millions of cases of chronic diseases.
The measures could also significantly reduce
greenhouse gas emissions.
The report estimates that they could halve global carbon dioxide emissions by 2050, cut methane emissions by 60 per cent and reduce major air pollutants by about 70 per cent. They could also limit global warming by about 0.34°C by 2050 and 1.4°C by 2100.
UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen said clean air should be viewed as an investment in development, health, food and energy security and climate stability.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres similarly called for faster action, saying reducing air pollution can improve health and productivity while the transition away from fossil fuels can simultaneously address climate change.
However, the report warns that fragmented decision-making, weak enforcement and poor coordination among governments could delay implementation by almost eight years.
It therefore calls for integrated climate, air-quality, health and economic policies, stronger institutions and enforcement, and better coordination of public and private financing.
