Can we change people's perception about pollution?

By Jessica Fear

Urgent action is needed to stop the environmental health crisis from becoming intractable. The harm to human health caused by pollution is of major global concern.

Pollution is regarded as the most significant contributor to the environmental health crisis by causing three times more deaths than tuberculosis, AIDS and malaria combined, this according to ‘The Lancet Commission on pollution and health’. Yet most people are unaware of this.

The Global Burden of Disease study produces data concerning the contributing factors to the burden of disease and premature deaths. The study identified that exposure to particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5μm, was the cause of 8.9 million deaths alone in 2015. Despite this, people are reluctant to acknowledge the extent of the problem created by pollution, preventing action particularly in less developed countries where pollution is driving inequalities.

The complexity of the environmental health crisis is enhanced by climate change. Not only is air pollution linked to climate change predominantly through fossil fuel combustion, but climate change has caused a rise in the number of cases of malnutrition, the spread of vector-borne diseases and fatalities caused by extreme weather. Climate change may be widely covered by the media, but it continues to evoke controversy contributing to a sense of intractability in respect to taking action.

According to the FAO, 2 billion people across the globe faced moderate to severe levels of food insecurity in 2019, disproportionately affecting the world’s poorest countries. This injustice is unlikely to be resolved due to the increasing pressure on the global food system caused by overpopulation and climate change.

However, in recent years innovative technological strategies have been implemented to reduce air pollution such as renewable energy and geoengineering. An example of a promising geoengineering strategy is Carbon Capture and Storage, involving the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and safe storage underground. But is technology the solution? It could be more effective to enforce a global reduction in the reliance of fossil fuels and reforestation to not only reduce pollution levels but to protect the environment. Nevertheless, it’s noticeable that present-day strategies are ineffective.

Ultimately there needs to be greater emphasis of the environmental health crisis in the media, driven by further scientific evidence and support. This could be achieved by identifying the areas at greatest risk from pollution and by carrying out extensive research on the direct link between air pollution levels and harm to human health. Not only will this fuel more financial support for mitigation strategies but could also enable polluting industries to be held accountable for their actions.

As a first year Biological Sciences student at the University of Birmingham, I have an interest in the subject matter after writing an essay on the complexity of the environmental health crisis. Following extensive research, I have been made aware of the scale of the issue as well as the importance of scientific data in documenting and resolving the crisis.