Air pollution and its impact on human health

The document highlights the critical link between air pollution, human health, and climate change, specifically focusing on short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs). It argues that because air pollution has a more immediate and tangible impact on public health than long-term climate change, it can serve as a powerful catalyst for policy action. The brief details the health burdens of PM2.5 and tropospheric ozone, including millions of asthma-related hospital visits and pre-term births. To facilitate this, the Stockholm Environment Institute promotes the Low Emissions Analysis Platform (LEAP) and Integrated Benefits Calculator (IBC) to help cities and nations model emission projections and quantify health and climate benefits simultaneously.

• The IPCC report indicates a need for a 70-80% reduction in hydrofluorocarbons and approximately a 35% reduction in black carbon and methane emissions by 2030.
• Air pollution is a major global health risk, with premature death estimates ranging from 4.9 million in 2017 (Global Burden of Disease project) to 7 million in 2016 (World Health Organization).
• Exposure to outdoor PM2.5 was associated with 2.7 million pre-term births globally in 2010, representing 18% of all pre-term births; the highest numbers occurred in India and China, while the highest percentages were in West Asia and Africa.
• In 2015, tropospheric ozone and PM2.5 were linked to significant asthma-related emergency room visits globally, with ozone accounting for 3.3-8.5 million visits and PM2.5 accounting for 3.7-7.3 million visits.
• The Low Emissions Analysis Platform (LEAP) and Integrated Benefits Calculator (IBC) allow users to model emission projections and assess the health and climate implications of different policies at national and urban scales.
• Integrated strategies such as electric mobility powered by renewable energy, energy efficiency, and shifts to public transport or cycling can simultaneously reduce greenhouse gases and air pollutants.

APA

Kuylenstierna, J., Malley, C., Büker, P., & Marmon, T. (2020). Air pollution and its impact on human health. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/200907a-dixon-kuylenstierna-air-pollution-health-pb-2007a.pdf

Chicago

Kuylenstierna, Johan, Chris Malley, Patrick Büker, and Tangmar Marmon. Air pollution and its impact on human health. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2020. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/200907a-dixon-kuylenstierna-air-pollution-health-pb-2007a.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Kuylenstierna |first1=Johan |last2=Malley |first2=Chris |last3=Büker |first3=Patrick |last4=Marmon |first4=Tangmar |title=Air pollution and its impact on human health |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=September 2020 |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/200907a-dixon-kuylenstierna-air-pollution-health-pb-2007a.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{kuylenstierna2020air, author = {Kuylenstierna, Johan and Malley, Chris and Büker, Patrick and Marmon, Tangmar}, title = {{Air pollution and its impact on human health}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2020}, month = sep, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/200907a-dixon-kuylenstierna-air-pollution-health-pb-2007a.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }