Over 30% deaths in ’18 caused by fossil fuels: Study
NEW DELHI: Over 30% of deaths in India in 2018 were caused by air pollution from the burning of fossil fuels, a new study conducted by scientists from Harvard University, University of Birmingham, the University of Leicester and University College London have found. Researchers estimated that exposure to particulate matter from fossil fuel emissions accounted for 18% of total global deaths in 2018, which was around one out of five.
The study, which has been published in Environmental Research, a peer-reviewed journal, states that more than 8 million people are killed each year by air pollution from burning fossil fuels like coal and diesel. However, topping the global charts in the most number of such deaths was India and China.
China had the highest premature mortality with 3.91 million deaths and India accounted for 2.46 million deaths.
Data collected by the researchers showed that in India, Uttar Pradesh reported the maximum deaths caused by exposure to fossil fuel fumes — or 471,456 additional deaths. This was followed by Bihar with 288,821 deaths caused by fossil fuel burning and West Bengal, where 276,312 such deaths took place. The study also said that Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu also reported over 100,000 (each) such deaths.
Scientists said that while previous researches on similar areas relied on satellite and surface observations to estimate the average global annual concentrations of airborne particulate matter, known as PM2.5 (ultrafine particulate matter with diameter less than 2.5 micrometres), the satellite and surface observations were unable to tell the difference between particles from fossil fuel emissions and those from dust, wildfire smoke or other sources.
In this study, however, the scientists have used a more advanced technology of GEOSCHEM, a global 3D model of atmospheric chemistry, which has a high spatial resolution.
This means that the researchers could divide the globe into a grid with boxes as small as 50 km x 60 km and look at pollution levels in each box individually. “Rather than rely on averages spread across large regions, we wanted to map where the pollution is and where people live, so we could know more (about) exactly what people are breathing,” said Karn Vohra, a graduate student at the University of Birmingham and first author of the study.
Environment and health experts stressed on the need for governments to control the use of fossil fuels and check on the emissions caused by it, to prevent such premature deaths.
“When we see that deaths from fossil fuel combustion exceed deaths from malaria by a factor of 20, we must recognise that this is a major global health crisis,” said Sarah Hsu, executive vice chair, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. “...As healthcare workers, we have the obligation and opportunity to save millions of lives by advocating for clean energy, divesting from fossil fuels, and de-carbonizing our healthcare facilities,” Hsu said.
TARN TARAN: Days after Tarn Taran police couldn’t make a single arrest in connection with the clash between the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) supporters, who had exchanged firing, outside the nagar panchayat office in Bhikhiwind town of the district, a local court has granted interim bail to eight Akali workers.
After the clash that had taken place in police presence, a case under various sections of the IPC, including of murder bid, and relevant sections of the Arms Act was registered at Bhikhiwind police station.
Fifteen Akali workers, including former president of the nagar panchayat Amarjit Singh and some candidates, were named in the FIR. Besides, nearly 200 unidentified people were booked. Eight more names were added to the FIR afterward.
Akali leaders and workers had protested on the night of the incident, demanding action against the Congress leaders and workers. However, no Congress worker was booked in the case. SSP Dhruman H Nimbale had said they were taking action against the workers of both the parties.
Hours before the clash, candidates of the AAP and BJP had alleged assault and tearing of their nomination papers by the Congress workers.
PATIALA MP SAYS THEY WILL MEET LOK SABHA SPEAKER AND SEEK DISCUSSION ON IT ON A PRIORITY BASIS
PATIALA : Congress’ Patiala MP Preneet Kaur said on Tuesday that she along with the party’s Lok Sabha members from Punjab will introduce a private member’s bill in the lower House of Parliament seeking repeal of the Centre’s three farm laws.
In a press release, Preneet Kaur said the Congress MPS from the state will also meet the Lok Sabha speaker to request him to allow introduction of the ‘Repealing and Amending Act 2021’ bill on a priority basis besides a discussion on it.
“Just like the Punjab Vidhan Sabha passed Acts to repeal the farm laws, we hope that this bill will be supported and passed in Parliament,” she added.the Patiala MP accused the Bjp-led central government of trying to destroy the ideals enshrined in our Constitution that was made for the preservation of the rights of people.
“We’re bringing this bill to ensure that our Constitution is not trampled upon. We also extend our support to the protesting farmers who have been forced to sit on roads for their rights against their own government. We have tried everything to support our farmers and to raise their concerns. Our MPS and MLAS have even been sitting on dharna for over a month, but this government has turned a blind eye towards the elected members,” she added.