However, the potential greenhouse gas emissions contained in known, extractable fossil fuel reserves are around three times higher than this carbon budget, meaning that 66% must be kept in the ground. Though recent studies suggest there may in fact be no risk-free level of air pollution. Because one common culprit is responsible for the majority of both climate change and air pollution: fuel combustion. There are costs to the affected individuals, to their families and to society in terms of direct medical costs, costs to healthcare systems, productivity losses, and lower economic growth (not to mention costs resulting from damages to ecosystems). Ploy Achakulwisut is a Postdoctoral Scientist at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health.

Source: The Guardian April 26, 2018 09:56 UTC