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Air Quality Delays Cost Trillions
8 Sep
Summary
- Achieving air quality standards by 2040 could cut PM2.5 exposure by 20%.
- An eight-year delay in standards could halve emission reductions by 2035.
- Economic benefits of clean air actions are 2.8% of global GDP by 2035.
If New Delhi achieves its national air quality standards by the scheduled 2026 deadline, it could see a 20% reduction in PM2.5 exposure by 2040. This projection, highlighted in a new report, emphasizes the critical impact of timely action on public health and environmental quality.
The report, 'Hidden Assets: The Economic and Health Case for Climate and Clean Air Action', released by the UN Environment Programme and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, reveals that an eight-year delay in meeting these standards would result in only a 10% reduction. This delay would substantially increase health impacts and halve achievable emission reductions by 2035.
Globally, implementing 25 already feasible solutions, such as renewable energy and improved vehicle standards, could yield significant economic benefits. The analysis predicts these measures will be equivalent to 2.8% of global GDP in 2035, growing to 4.5% by 2050. Each year of delay foregoes over 0.5% of global GDP in benefits.
Institutional barriers are identified as the primary cause for expected global implementation delays of approximately 7.5 to 8 years. Strengthening economic, social, technological, and institutional conditions could accelerate the adoption of these solutions, boosting PM2.5 and ozone precursor reductions between 2025 and 2050.
