New Delhi (NVI): Air pollution from burning fossil fuels is generating losses of USD 150 billion in India, i.e., Rs 10.7 lakh crore annually, according to a Greenpeace report.
The report also reveals the cost of air pollution from fossil fuels in some other countries and highlights solutions that can protect health and benefit communities.
The global cost of air pollution from fossil fuels is estimated to be around US$2.9 trillion, or 3.3% of the world’s GDP annually, according to the report.
India is estimated to bear 10.7 lakh crore (US$150 billion), or 5.4% of India’s GDP annually, the third-highest costs from fossil fuel air pollution worldwide.
China bears the highest costs at US$900 billion followed by the United States with US $600 billion and India.
The analysis also suggests that an estimated one million deaths each year and approximately 9,80,000 estimated preterm births, equating to an annual economic loss of 10.7 lakh crore (US$150 billion) is attributed to air pollution from fossil fuel in India.
Another source of economic costs is that approximately 350,000 new cases of child asthma each year are linked to NO2, a by-product of fossil fuel combustion.
As a result, around 1,285,000 more children in India live with asthma linked to fossil fuel pollution. Exposure to pollution from fossil fuels also leads to around 49 crore days of work absence due to illness.
