More than 13.5 million deaths due to air pollution could be avoided by 2050 under climate action that limits global warming to 2 degrees Celsius, mostly in low and middle-income countries, according to a new study. However, wealthier nations bearing more of the climate mitigation effort under an 'equity-based approach' could result in LMICs paying less, but may avert nearly four million fewer premature deaths, because less fossil fuel reduction occurs where air pollution is the worst, the researchers said. The authors wrote, "Climate action to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius results in more than 13.5 million avoided premature deaths from air pollution between 2020 and 2050, mostly in middle-income countries." The study found that for almost all LMICs, the savings from reduced climate mitigation costs more than cover the expense of these additional air quality measures, they said. "There is an urgent need to design justice-centred climate mitigation regimes to ensure that developing countries do not miss an opportunity to realise transformative reductions in air pollution," co-lead author Noah Scovronick, associate professor at Emory University, said.

Source: The Telegraph March 19, 2026 10:36 UTC