DISEASE AND POVERTY DUE TO POLLUTION
DISEASE AND POVERTY DUE TO POLLUTION
The Lancet Commission report presents data documenting pollution and pollution-related disease. According are concentrated among the poor and contribute to the intergenerational perpetuation of poverty. Pollution related disease can result in lost income and increased health-care costs, thus imposing disproportionately great economic burdens on poor families and communities.
AIR AND WATER POLLUTION
In 2015, more than 99% of deaths that happened due to household air pollution and approximately 89% of deaths, which happened due to ambient air pollution, occurred in low-income and middle-income countries. Several cities in India and China record average annual concentrations of PM pollution of greater than 100 μg/m3. More than 50% of global deaths due to ambient air pollution in 2015 occurred in India and China.
Ambient air pollution in rapidly expanding mega-cities such as New Delhi and Beijing attracts the greatest public attention. But the problem of ambient air pollution is widespread in low-income and middle-income countries. This finds that 98% of urban areas in developing countries with populations of more than 100 000 people fail to meet the WHO global air quality guideline for pollution – that is 10 μg/m3 of ambient air annually.
Poor water and inadequate sanitation and hygiene are also highly concentrated in the world’s poorest countries. An estimated 2・5 billion people lack access to a basic toilet. 748 million people lack clean drinking water. Poor people living in rural areas, indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, and other marginalized groups are the most likely to lack these basic services.
THE NEED FOR A PLAN
The Regional Action Plan for Intergovernmental Cooperation on Air Pollution for Latin America and the Caribbean (prepared by the UN Environment Program) is an example of a high-level plan that sets out common directions for national governments to work together on broad issues.
This Action Plan promotes collaboration towards the creation and adoption of national and local policies. Also, it advocates programs to reduce emissions of key pollutants and to achieve improvements in urban air quality in the region. The Action Plan covers broad supportive activities such as technical assistance, policy cooperation, methods, research, and awareness raising and monitoring. The Regional Action Plan will support and encourage administrations to develop and implement practical local plans to reduce the effects of air pollution.
