1m deaths in 2017 attributed to fossil fuel air pollution, research suggests

A team of researchers at the Washington University in St Louis (WUSTL) claim that at least one million deaths in 2017 were directly attributed to the burning of fossil fuels, publishing their data in the Nature Communications journal.

The study, which analyses the health effects attributed to air pollution, found that 91% of the global population experience air pollution levels higher than the levels deemed safe by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

This data comes just days after the latest G7 summit, which pledged to accelerate renewable development and protect vulnerable communities from the adverse effects of climate change.

Read more: G7 talks spur renewables drive and climate safety pledge

The data suggests that more than 50% of the deaths measured in the study were attributed to coal combustion. Coal is used in many parts of the world as a key energy source.

However, a number of countries - most recently Poland - have pledged to begin phasing out the use of coal-fire power stations, and subsequently coal as a resource, due to its status as a heavy pollutant and finite resource in favour of greener energy sources.

The World Coal Organisation claims the fossil fuel is critical for a number of key industrial sectors.

The data found that exposure to lethal levels of air pollution was primarily concentrated in areas such as the Middle East, Asia and Africa, despite many surface observations being limited primarily to the western world.

The study focused on PM_2.5 - "PM" being the short-form of "particulate matter" - which the report claims is the current number one environmental risk factor for mortality.

Specifically, the particles are at particular risk of entering a person's lungs, owing to them being fewer than 2.5 micrometres in diameter.

Many of the levels measured in these areas were based on standardised estimates for the sake of consistency.

The researchers utilised a number of computational methods to weave the data together and supposedly enhanced them. The authors claim that, through a mix of emissions estimates and modelling, they were able to map out different sources of air pollution.

Read more: Governments and businesses "must work" together to meet climate goals

They hope this will provide a metric to allow for many of these areas to continue monitoring and tackling the issue of air pollution.

The data does not rule out natural disturbances in clean air. For example, in the same year, dust and sandstorms in sub-Saharan Africa accounted for nearly three-quarters of particulate matter in the air.

Erin McDuffie, one of the report's lead authors, says singling out sources of air pollution and deaths is imperative for devising mitigation solutions.

She added: “The good news is that we may be providing some of the first information that these places have about their major sources of pollution. They may otherwise not have this information readily available to them. This provides them with a start.”

However, it is also worth noting that, despite fossil fuels being an active pollutant contributing to the climate crisis, until significant measures are taken in extending the viability of renewable energy and relevant infrastructure, it is not unreasonable to suggest the burning of fossil fuels save more lives in the short-term than they take.

The coronavirus pandemic, in particular, has spurred a green revolution, with a number of nations enshrining more ambitious climate goals as part of their pandemic recovery schemes.

Strides in areas such as green hydrogen, electrolysis and advances in wind and solar energy should allow for renewables to operate larger market shares going into the future.

Read more: Lockdown energy use "a glimpse into the future," says EnAppSys chief

However, fossil fuel combustion's long-term effects are undeniable and unsustainable. Fossil fuels and the fumes and gases they release have long contributed to health concerns, particularly in urban areas.

A 2018 estimate suggests that as many as 18% of global deaths were attributed to exposure to PM_2.5.

During the initial lockdowns for the pandemic, a number of reports indicated global carbon emissions had peaked in 2019 and would never recover. However, recent measurements take taken by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) suggests that emissions have reached record highs.

Carbon emissions dropped by roughly 6.4% in 2020, falling short of the estimations put forth by many climate scientists.

The WUSTL study comes less than a month following the International Energy Agency (IEA) pleading for world governments and the private sector to stop new oil and gas projects and undergo "radical change" in order to tackle the climate crisis.

Read more: Radical change needed en route to net-zero, IEA warns

There are also concerns being raised as to whether both the 2°C and by extension, the 1.5°C global temperature targets laid out by the Paris Climate Agreement, can be met under the current climate goals being laid out across the globe.

Regardless, tackling climate change will require significant work and innovations from all aspects of industry and beyond in order to mitigate the worst effects before the climate crisis becomes irreversible.

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