How Asian countries could save lives, boost growth by tackling air pollution

The two most damaging types of air pollution in Asia and the Pacific are fine particulate matter and ground-level ozone. Fine particulate matter refers to a group of microscopic substances that measure less than 2.5 microns – just a fraction of the width of a human hair. These particles come primarily from the burning of fossil fuels and biomass, such as trees. They’re especially dangerous because their tiny size allows them to penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, triggering heart disease and lung cancer, among other potentially fatal diseases 

Ground-level ozone, a gas, forms when fuel vapours, chemical solvents and other pollutants are heated by the sun. It is the main ingredient in smog and has been linked to a litany of respiratory problems, including asthma, emphysema and chronic bronchitis. It can also slow photosynthesis, hampering plant growth. 

Nearly everyone who calls East and Southeast Asia home breathes polluted air and nine countries in the region are ranked among the world’s 40-most polluted nations in 2023, according to data from UNEP partner IQAir.  

Live data from UNEP showed that on a typical mid-August day this year, more than 98 per cent of people in China, Japan, Laos, the Republic of Korea and Vietnam breathed in air with PM2.5 levels that exceeded World Health Organization guidelines.  

The reports found the three nations could save a combined 230,000 lives by taking meaningful steps to reduce air pollution. The vast majority of those spared would be in Indonesia where air pollution is expected to contribute to more than 200,000 premature deaths annually by 2030.

Limiting air pollution wouldn’t only save lives and money. It would also help counter climate change. That’s because many of the substances that pollute the air, like methane, a gas, and black carbon, a form of PM2.5, also trap the sun’s heat, accelerating global warming.  

While these substances have relatively short lives in the atmosphere, they cause far more warming per unit of mass than the most common greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide.   

By investing in renewable energy, imposing stricter vehicle emission standards and fostering the transition to electric cars, Indonesia, for example, could improve its air quality and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 650 megatonnes. That is equivalent to taking 130 million cars off the road.  

While the reports only covered three countries, their findings could be applicable to much of East and Southeast Asia, says UNEP’s Tsering. 

“Too often, countries worry about how much it will cost to reduce air pollution,” she says. “But this UNEP data shows that there is a massive cost, both in terms of lives and money, to inaction.” 

• investing in renewable energy 

• embracing electric vehicles 

• improving waste management and ending the open burning of rubbish 

• bringing an end to the open burning of crops 

• helping people access cleaner-burning fuels, like natural gas, for cooking 

UNEP data found that while there would be a cost to these measures, it would pale in comparison to the amount of money lost to healthcare bills and flagging productivity. In Thailand, for example, the cost of implementing clean air strategies would be about US$4 billion annually by 2030. The cost of inaction would be triple that. 

The UN Environment Programme strengthens the capacity of governments to work for clean air by enhancing the understanding of air pollution and catalysing transformative actions and policies. Through the Asia Pacific Regional Forum on Health and the Environment, UNEP contributes to the cooperation of the health and environment sectors in the region to address environmental and health issues, such as air pollution. The Forum joint secretariat is hosted by UNEP and the World Health Organization. 

The International Day of Clean Air for blue skies, held annually on 7 September and facilitated by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), raises awareness about the importance of clean air for health, productivity, the economy and the environment. This year’s theme “Invest in #CleanAirNow” underscores the economic, environmental and health benefits of investing in clean air.