Respuestas
Homes
The main source of air pollution inside homes is the burning of wood and fossil fuels or based on biomass for cooking, heating or lighting. Around 3.8 million premature deaths are caused by indoor air pollution every year, the vast majority of them in the developing world.
In 97 countries, 85% of households already have access to cleaner energy sources. But still 3,000 million people continue to use solid fuels and fireplaces for cooking, heating and lighting. The adoption of cleaner and more modern heaters or heaters can reduce disease risks and save lives.
Industries
In many countries, power generation is a major source of air pollution. Power plants that burn coal are an important emitter, and diesel-based plants are a growing concern in areas disconnected from the grid. Industrial processes and the use of solvents in the chemical and mining industries also pollute the air.
Policies and programs aimed at increasing energy efficiency and production from renewable sources have a direct impact on the air quality of a country. Currently, 82 of 193 countries have incentives that promote investment in renewable energy, cleaner production, energy efficiency and pollution control.
Transport
The growing transport sector is responsible for almost a quarter of all energy-related carbon dioxide emissions, to which almost 400,000 premature deaths are attributed. About half of all air pollution deaths caused by transportation are due to diesel emissions. On the other hand, people who live closer to the main transit arteries are up to 12% more likely to be diagnosed with dementia.
Reducing vehicle emissions is an important intervention to improve air quality, especially in urban areas. Policies and standards that require the use of cleaner fuels and advanced vehicle emission standards can help minimize transportation pollution by up to 90% or more.
farming
The main sources of air pollution from agriculture include livestock, which produces methane and ammonia, and the burning of agricultural waste. Methane emissions contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone, which causes asthma and other respiratory diseases. Methane is also a greenhouse gas with an impact up to 34 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a period of 100 years. Around 24% of all greenhouse gases emitted in the world come from agriculture, forestry and other land uses.
There are many ways to help reduce air pollution from this source. People can decrease their meat consumption and opt for a plant-based diet, and minimize food waste to avoid creating an unnecessary demand for food in the market. For their part, farmers can reduce methane from livestock by optimizing the digestibility of food and improving grazing and pasture management.
Waste
The burning of open-air waste and organic waste in landfills releases harmful dioxins, furans, methane and particulate material such as black carbon into the atmosphere. Globally, it is estimated that 40% of the waste is burned outdoors, a problem that is more serious in the regions that are being urbanized and in developing countries. Open burning of agricultural and / or municipal waste is practiced in 166 of 193 countries.