The Millennium Development Goals in 2010 – threats to ecosystem services from air pollution, energy generation and pesticide use

This 2010 policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines how air pollution, energy production, and pesticide use threaten the ecosystem services necessary to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It argues that the degradation of approximately 60 per cent of examined ecosystem services may prevent the eradication of hunger and poverty, particularly in developing regions.

• The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) found that human demands over the last 50 years have caused unprecedented ecosystem changes, with approximately 60 per cent of examined ecosystem services being used unsustainably or degraded. This degradation is viewed as a potential barrier to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
• Air pollutants—specifically ground-level ozone (O3), nitrogen oxides (NOx), ammonia (NH3), and sulphur dioxide (SO2)—negatively impact ecosystem services. In South Asia, tropospheric ozone pollution is identified as a potential major barrier to alleviating hunger due to expected severe crop yield losses.
• Progress toward basic energy access is lagging in developing Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, and is not expected to meet targets under current trends. By 2030, the energy-poor are projected to be primarily located in Indonesia and sub-Saharan Africa. This lack of access may hinder MDG targets by reducing the quality of health and education services and forcing reliance on smoky solid fuels.
• Energy generation and consumption are currently exerting unsustainable pressure on ecosystems. Fossil fuels contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, acidification, and water contamination, while large hydro power disrupts natural river cycles, both of which can reduce crop and aquatic yields.
• Pesticide use has unintended negative effects on regulating and provisioning services, including pollination, nutrient cycling, and wild food supplies. In Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, the inappropriate use of pesticides like cypermethrin and carbaryl threatens the supply of wild foods such as frogs, fish, and insects found near rice paddies.

APA

Persson, L., & Noel, S. (2010). The Millennium Development Goals in 2010 – threats to ecosystem services from air pollution, energy generation and pesticide use. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-PolicyBrief-LPersson-MillenniumDevelopmentGoals.pdf

Chicago

Persson, Linn, and Stacey Noel. The Millennium Development Goals in 2010 – threats to ecosystem services from air pollution, energy generation and pesticide use. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2010. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-PolicyBrief-LPersson-MillenniumDevelopmentGoals.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Persson |first1=Linn |last2=Noel |first2=Stacey |title=The Millennium Development Goals in 2010 – threats to ecosystem services from air pollution, energy generation and pesticide use |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=2010 |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-PolicyBrief-LPersson-MillenniumDevelopmentGoals.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{persson2010millennium, author = {Persson, Linn and Noel, Stacey}, title = {{The Millennium Development Goals in 2010 – threats to ecosystem services from air pollution, energy generation and pesticide use}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2010}, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-PolicyBrief-LPersson-MillenniumDevelopmentGoals.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }