Question: Which of the following statement is/are correct according to WHO report on Reducing Global Health Risks?
(1) Black carbon, ozone and methane are often described as short-lived climate pollutants.
(2) Short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) are responsible for a significant proportion of air-pollution related deaths and diseases that kill some 7 million people per year.
(3) Global deployment of 16 SLCP reduction measures would save an average of 3.5 million lives annually by 2030.
(a) All (1), (2) and (3) are correct.
(b) Only (1) and (2) are correct.
(c) Only (2) and (3) are correct.
(d) Only (1) and (3) are correct.
Ans (a)
Related facts:
- The World Health Organization (WHO) on 22 October 2015 released a report titled Reducing global health risks through mitigation of short-lived climate pollutants.
- The report was produced in collaboration of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants.
- According to the report, by reducing short lived climate pollutants, reduction in illness and death can be brought.
- Also it will contribute to food security, improve diets and increase physical activity.
- The report spotlights the urgent need to reduce short-lived climate pollutants like black carbon, ozone, methane and carbon dioxide that contribute to climate change. This is to be noted that black carbon, methane, and ozone are often called as Short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs).
- Black carbon, ozone and methane are responsible for generating intense global warming effect.
- Also it led to more than 7 million deaths linked to air pollution each year.
- Importantly, Global deployment of 16 SLCP reduction measures would save an averageof 5 million lives annually by 2030.
Top actions for health and climate benefits:
- Reducing vehicle emissions by implementing higher emissions and efficiency standards.
- Providing cleaner and more efficient stove and fuel alternatives to the approximately 2.8 billion low-income households.
- Encouraging high and middle-income populations to increase their consumption of nutritious plant-based foods.
- Policies and investments that prioritize dedicated rapid transit such as buses and trains and foster safe pedestrian and cycle networks.
- It is to be noted that WHO mentioned more than 20 available and affordable measures to mitigate short-lived climate pollutants.
- This includes vehicle emissions standards, capturing landfill gas, switching from fossil fuels to renewable, reducing food waste and improving household cooking fuels.
The Climate and Clean Air Coalition:
- It is a voluntary global partnership of governments, intergovernmental organizations, businesses, scientific institutions and civil society.
- This is committed to take concrete, substantial action to reduce Short Lived Climate Pollutants.
- This Coalition will works through collaborative initiatives to raise awareness, mobilize resources and lead transformative actions in key emitting sectors.
Reference:
http://www.who.int/phe/publications/climate-reducing-health-risks/en/
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2015/reducing-climate-pollutants/en/
http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/189524/1/9789241565080_eng.pdf?ua=1