25 Simple Measures Could Drastically Reduce Air Pollution In Asia: A

Geneva:

Millions of lives could be saved and one billion people living in 2030 if 25 simple and cost-effective measures are implemented, a new UN report said on Tuesday.

Currently, about four billion people – 92 percent of Asia and the Pacific's population – are exposed to levels of air pollution that pose a significant risk to their health.

The report titled "Air pollution in Asia and the Pacific: Science-based solutions" was launched at the World Health Organization's first Global Air Pollution and Health Conference.

It is the first comprehensive scientific assessment of the air pollution outlook in Asia and the Pacific and is a collaboration between the UN Environment Program, the Asia Pacific Clean Air Partnership, and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition.

The report details 25 policy and delivery measures that will deliver benefits across sectors.

The analysis takes the area of ​​considerable diversity into account and groups the selected measures into three categories.

The first is a program that focuses on emissions that lead to the formation of particulate matter (PM2.5).

The second is next-stage air-quality measures for reducing emissions that lead to the formation of PM2.5.

This includes activities like reducing the burning of agricultural and municipal solid waste and preventing forest fires.

The third is measures contributing to the development of higher education.

This includes activities for the supply of clean energy for households.

According to the report, the implementation of the 25 measures would result in a reduction in carbon dioxide and a reduction in methane emissions, in the upside to a third of a degree Celsius in global warming.

Two-thirds of these deaths occur in the Asia-Pacific region. The reductions in outdoor air pollution from the 25 measures could reduce premature mortality in the region by one third, and help avoid two million premature deaths from indoor air pollution.

"It is an unfortunate fact that breathing clean air, the most basic of human needs, has become a reality in many parts of the world.But there are many tried and tested solutions that we can put in place now to solve this problem," UN Environment head Erik Solheim said.