A recent study conducted by the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry has revealed the significant impact of phasing out fossil fuels on global public health. The study suggests that transitioning to renewable energy sources could prevent 5.13 million deaths annually, primarily linked to air pollution and cardiometabolic diseases.
The research, led by Jos Lelieveld, Andrea Pozzer, and Andy Haines, emphasizes the urgent need to address the health and environmental implications of fossil fuel usage. The team’s findings shed light on the substantial health benefits associated with reducing air pollution through the adoption of renewable energy.
The study highlights the prevalent risks posed by air pollution to public health, particularly the mortality burden attributed to cardiometabolic conditions. Ischaemic heart disease, stroke, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are identified as the primary contributors to the mortality burden, with an estimated 5.13 million excess deaths per year globally linked to ambient air pollution from fossil fuel use.
Jos Lelieveld, the director at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, underscores the potential impact of phasing out fossil fuels, stating, ‘This corresponds to 82% of the maximum number of air pollution deaths that could be averted by controlling all anthropogenic emissions.’ The study’s new relative risk model provides insights into the potential benefits of transitioning to renewable energy sources and the subsequent reduction in air pollution-related mortality.
