Fossil fuel pollution kills 5 million people a year

Air pollution from fossil fuel use likely kills more than 5 million people worldwide every year, according to a new report by the British Medical Journal

POSSIBLE REDUCTIONS IN ANNUAL DEATHS FROM AIR POLLUTION
(if removing fossil fuel-related and anthropogenic emissions, %)

50% reduction in fossil fuel air pollution 
No fossil fuel air pollution
No anthropogenic air pollution*

95% confidence interval
Annual deaths linked to long term exposure to fossil fuel pollution† 
0% 20 40 60 80 100

Worldwide   5.13m
Southeast and East Asia, and Oceania  2.19m
Sub-Saharan Africa   0.16m
South Asia   1.66m
North Africa and Middle East  0.16m
Latin America and Caribbean   0.15m
Central-eastern Europe and central Asia  0.36m
High income countries   0.46m

*Emissions of greenhouse gases and aerosols caused by human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, livestock production, fertilisation, waste management and industrial processes


Source: BMJ †Figures rounded Picture: Ron Lach (Pexels) © GRAPHIC NEWS