At the Human Rights Council in Geneva, David Boyd, Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment, insisted that air pollution is a “silent, sometimes invisible, prolific killer” which affected women and girls more than men.
This is despite the fact that the right to a healthy environment is legally recognised by 155 States, Dr. Boyd explained.
“Air pollutants are everywhere, largely caused by burning fossil fuels for electricity, transportation and heating, as well as from industrial activities, poor waste management and agricultural practices,” he said.
Air pollution is present both inside homes and outside and is responsible for the premature death of seven million people each year, including 600,000 children, according to the Special Rapporteur’s report.
“Every hour, 800 people are dying, many after years of suffering, from cancer, respiratory illnesses or heart disease directly caused by breathing polluted air,” he said, before highlighting that these deaths were preventable.
Cleaner cooking fuel switch cuts indoor pollution
Some States, such as Indonesia have begun to address the problem of indoor air pollution linked to cooking by helping millions of poor families switch to cleaner cooking technologies.
In 2018, we saw hope in growing action and global commitment to new ways of doing business that tackle the environmental challenges we face. Read more in @UNEnvironment's 2018 Annual Report. https://t.co/sZaNTon1pX
— Joyce Msuya (@JoyceMsuya) March 4, 2019
To read the complete UN release click here
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Featured image is from UNICEF/Batbaatar
