{"id":29586,"date":"2020-07-09T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-07-09T03:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/?post_type=campaign&#038;p=29586"},"modified":"2025-07-02T14:42:30","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T07:42:30","slug":"tracking-cost-air-pollution","status":"publish","type":"campaign","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/southeastasia\/campaign\/tracking-cost-air-pollution\/","title":{"rendered":"Tracking the Cost of Air Pollution"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>As air quality monitoring improves, it is increasingly difficult for coal, oil and car companies to hide the real cost of fossil fuels. We deserve to know the invisible impact of air pollution on our cities and our health.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n<p>Greenpeace Southeast Asia and IQAir AirVisual have created a tool that uses live air quality data to track the health impact and economic cost of air pollution in real time.<\/p>\n\n<div style=\"height:16px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<script src=\"https:\/\/unpkg.com\/vue\"><\/script>\n\n<table width=\"75%\" align=\"center\" bgcolor=\"#E5E5E5\"><tbody><tr><td>\n\n<div id=\"app\">\n  <clean-air-counter lang=\"en\" citylist=\"global\"><\/clean-air-counter> \n<\/div>\n\n<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n<script src=\"https:\/\/greenpeace.github.io\/global-clean-air-counter\/dist\/js\/app.js\"> <\/script>\n\n<div style=\"height:16px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Findings<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<p>In 2020, PM2.5 air pollution was responsible for the loss of an estimated 160,000 lives in the world\u2019s five most populous cities and a combined economic cost in these cities of US$85 billion.<\/p>\n\n<p>Estimated air pollution impacts in the world\u2019s five most populous cities in 2020.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-grey-background-color has-background\"><thead><tr><th><strong>City<\/strong><\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-right\" data-align=\"right\"><strong>Population<\/strong><\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-right\" data-align=\"right\"><strong>Estimated <strong>Premature<\/strong><\/strong> <strong>Deaths<\/strong><\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-right\" data-align=\"right\"><strong>Estimated Economic Cost<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Delhi<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-right\" data-align=\"right\">30 million<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-right\" data-align=\"right\">54,000<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-right\" data-align=\"right\">US$8.1 billion<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Mexico City<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-right\" data-align=\"right\">22 million<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-right\" data-align=\"right\">15,000<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-right\" data-align=\"right\">US$8 billion<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>S\u00e3o Paulo<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-right\" data-align=\"right\">22 million<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-right\" data-align=\"right\">15,000<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-right\" data-align=\"right\">US$7 billion&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Shanghai<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-right\" data-align=\"right\">26 million<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-right\" data-align=\"right\">39,000<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-right\" data-align=\"right\">US$19 billion<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Tokyo<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-right\" data-align=\"right\">37 million<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-right\" data-align=\"right\">40,000<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-right\" data-align=\"right\">US$43 billion<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><br>Source: Greenpeace Southeast Asia\/IQAir AirVisual cost of air pollution counter. Population of metropolitan area | Source:&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/population.un.org\/wpp\/\" target=\"_blank\">United Nations World Population Prospects<br><\/a>&nbsp;and government data. Sources are specified in the&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-southeastasia-stateless\/2021\/02\/ef76f49b-methodology_-revealing-the-cost-of-air-pollution-in-world-cities-annual-results-for-2020.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">methodology<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<p>The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that air pollution is linked to approximately <a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/thailand\/health-topics\/air-pollution#tab=tab_1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">7 million<\/a> deaths worldwide every year. The toxic air that we breathe increases our risk of stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, asthma and affects nearly every organ in our bodies.<\/p>\n\n<p>Air pollution also takes a steep financial toll. A February 2020 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/southeastasia\/press\/3586\/air-pollution-from-fossil-fuels-costs-the-world-us8-billion-every-day-greenpeace\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Greenpeace Southeast Asia<\/a> report estimates that air pollution from fossil fuels sources alone costs the world US$8 billion every day, or a staggering 3.3% of global GDP.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><strong>We need a green recovery<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<p>The good news is that air pollution is a problem that we know how to solve and doing so is more feasible than ever.<\/p>\n\n<p>Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloombergquint.com\/business\/solar-and-wind-cheapest-sources-of-power-in-most-of-the-world\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">now cheaper<\/a> than polluting fossil fuels in most parts of the world, even before taking the cost of air pollution into account.<\/p>\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/sites\/production\/files\/2015-07\/documents\/fullreport_rev_a.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Research shows<\/a> that investment in clean air programs can yield returns of 30 times or higher. In addition, accessible, clean energy powered public transport systems not only bring health savings due to reduced smog, but also increase mobility.<\/p>\n\n<p>We need clean energy and transport, both for our health and our economies. As governments look to rebuild amid the COVID-19 pandemic, they must ensure that we build back in a way that is good for the economy and safe for our lungs.<\/p>\n<div data-hydrate=\"planet4-blocks\/gallery\" data-attributes=\"{&quot;attributes&quot;:{&quot;gallery_block_style&quot;:2,&quot;multiple_image&quot;:&quot;28409,43703,43689&quot;,&quot;gallery_block_focus_points&quot;:&quot;{\\&quot;28409\\&quot;:\\&quot;43% 23%\\&quot;,\\&quot;43684\\&quot;:\\&quot;50% 50%\\&quot;,\\&quot;43689\\&quot;:\\&quot;50% 50%\\&quot;}&quot;,&quot;image_data&quot;:[{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.greenpeace.org\\\/southeastasia\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/01\\\/908c5885-gp0sttwhk.jpg&quot;,&quot;focalPoint&quot;:{&quot;x&quot;:0.5,&quot;y&quot;:0.5},&quot;id&quot;:28409},{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.greenpeace.org\\\/southeastasia\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/06\\\/8b076249-gp0stomnu.jpg&quot;,&quot;focalPoint&quot;:{&quot;x&quot;:0.5,&quot;y&quot;:0.5},&quot;id&quot;:43703},{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.greenpeace.org\\\/southeastasia\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/06\\\/6b896d31-gp0sttq08.jpg&quot;,&quot;focalPoint&quot;:{&quot;x&quot;:0.5,&quot;y&quot;:0.5},&quot;id&quot;:43689}],&quot;gallery_block_title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;gallery_block_description&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;images&quot;:[{&quot;image_src&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.greenpeace.org\\\/static\\\/planet4-southeastasia-stateless\\\/2023\\\/06\\\/908c5885-gp0sttwhk-768x512.jpg&quot;,&quot;image_srcset&quot;:false,&quot;image_sizes&quot;:&quot;(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px&quot;,&quot;alt_text&quot;:&quot;\\u2018We Want Clean Air\\u2019 Action in Hong Kong. \\u00a9 Patrick Cho \\\/ Greenpeace&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Research by Greenpeace and Hong Kong Shue Yan University shows that about 70% of the surveyed respondents are not satisfied with the air quality in Hong Kong and over 80% of them expressed particular concerns about vehicle emissions. \\n\\nGreenpeace members wore masks, waved X-rays of people&#039;s lungs and submitted a petition letter to the Transport and Housing Bureau. The government should take immediate actions to sweep out NO2 to strengthen public health and living quality in Hong Kong.&quot;,&quot;focus_image&quot;:&quot;43% 23%&quot;,&quot;credits&quot;:&quot;\\u00a9 Patrick Cho \\\/ Greenpeace&quot;},{&quot;image_src&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.greenpeace.org\\\/static\\\/planet4-southeastasia-stateless\\\/2023\\\/06\\\/8b076249-gp0stomnu-768x512.jpg&quot;,&quot;image_srcset&quot;:false,&quot;image_sizes&quot;:&quot;(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px&quot;,&quot;alt_text&quot;:&quot;&#039;Act for Arctic&#039; Ice Ride in Thailand. \\u00a9 Roengchai  Kongmuang \\\/ Greenpeace&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Over 1200 people took to the streets in Phitsanulok in a ride, led by Phitsanulok bike club, Greenpeace supporters, and the Climate Action Network (CAN) Thailand. The group stretched for 30 kilometers and along the way, bikers stopped at Naraesuan Bridge to unveil a 12 x 2.2-metre banner. Boonsong Tanthani, the mayor of the province, also provided support for the event in his opening address. \\n\\nThousands of people take to the streets in more than 30 countries across the globe to celebrate the Arctic and demand protection for this unique region of the world. The global public manifestation \\u2018Ice Ride\\u2019 is facilitated by Greenpeace and led forward by volunteers and partnering organisations. It comes just weeks after a global opinion poll revealed the vast majority in 30 countries on six continents support the idea of an Arctic Sanctuary in the international waters around the North Pole and wants the entire Arctic Ocean protected from oil drilling and destructive fishing.&quot;,&quot;focus_image&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;credits&quot;:&quot;\\u00a9 Roengchai  Kongmuang \\\/ Greenpeace&quot;},{&quot;image_src&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.greenpeace.org\\\/static\\\/planet4-southeastasia-stateless\\\/2023\\\/06\\\/6b896d31-gp0sttq08-768x512.jpg&quot;,&quot;image_srcset&quot;:false,&quot;image_sizes&quot;:&quot;(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px&quot;,&quot;alt_text&quot;:&quot;Solar Rooftop at Luang Suan Hospital in Thailand. \\u00a9 Greenpeace \\\/ Arnaud Vittet&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Langsuan hospital in Chumphon province launched the second solar hospital from crowdfunding in Thailand through the Thailand Solar Fund and with collaboration of 15 networks pushing Thailand towards renewable energy.&quot;,&quot;focus_image&quot;:&quot;50% 50%&quot;,&quot;credits&quot;:&quot;\\u00a9 Greenpeace \\\/ Arnaud Vittet&quot;}]}}\"><section class=\"block split-three-column \"><\/section><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Methodology<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<p>The Cost Estimator uses live ground-level air quality measurements from IQAir AirVisual\u2019s database. Researchers developed an algorithm which combines this data with scientific risk models, as well as population and public health data to estimate the cost of PM2.5 air pollution.<\/p>\n\n<p>Mortality and cost estimates are based on the total impact attributable to PM2.5 over a full year. Daily figures are calculated by apportioning the annual costs day by day according to each day\u2019s recorded pollutant levels.<\/p>\n\n<p>The counter builds on methodology from the Greenpeace Southeast Asia and Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) report&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/southeastasia\/press\/3586\/air-pollution-from-fossil-fuels-costs-the-world-us8-billion-every-day-greenpeace\/\" target=\"_blank\">Toxic Air: The Price of Fossil Fuels<\/a>, which compiled the latest scientific results on exposure-response relationships between air pollution and health outcomes, as well as the economic costs of health conditions that were linked to air pollution in scientific literature. &nbsp;More information on the methodology is available&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/act.gp\/3q8ZcJY\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div data-render=\"planet4-blocks\/columns\" data-attributes=\"{&quot;attributes&quot;:{&quot;columns_block_style&quot;:&quot;image&quot;,&quot;columns&quot;:[{&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Air pollution from fossil fuels costs the world US$8 billion every day&quot;,&quot;description&quot;:&quot;Air pollution from burning fossil fuels \\u2013 primarily coal, oil, and gas \\u2013 is attributed to an estimated 4.5 million deaths each year worldwide and estimated economic losses of US$2.9 trillion, or approximately 3.3% of global GDP.&quot;,&quot;attachment&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.greenpeace.org\\\/static\\\/planet4-southeastasia-stateless\\\/2023\\\/06\\\/0767d1b4-gp0stpoh1-510x340.jpg&quot;,&quot;cta_link&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.greenpeace.org\\\/southeastasia\\\/press\\\/3586\\\/air-pollution-from-fossil-fuels-costs-the-world-us8-billion-every-day-greenpeace&quot;,&quot;cta_text&quot;:&quot;Read the press release&quot;,&quot;link_new_tab&quot;:false,&quot;attachment_srcset&quot;:false},{&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Toxic Air: The Price of Fossil Fuels&quot;,&quot;description&quot;:&quot;This report reveals the cost of air pollution from fossil fuels and highlights solutions that can protect our health and benefit our communities.&quot;,&quot;attachment&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.greenpeace.org\\\/static\\\/planet4-southeastasia-stateless\\\/2023\\\/06\\\/713bb168-gp0stuh5q-510x340.jpg&quot;,&quot;cta_link&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.greenpeace.org\\\/southeastasia\\\/publication\\\/3603\\\/toxic-air-the-price-of-fossil-fuels-full-report\\\/&quot;,&quot;cta_text&quot;:&quot;Read the report&quot;,&quot;link_new_tab&quot;:false,&quot;attachment_srcset&quot;:false}],&quot;className&quot;:&quot;is-style-image&quot;}}\"><\/div><div data-render=\"planet4-blocks\/happypoint\" data-attributes=\"{&quot;attributes&quot;:{&quot;focus_image&quot;:&quot;61% 66%&quot;,&quot;opacity&quot;:70,&quot;id&quot;:43671,&quot;override_default_content&quot;:true,&quot;local_content_provider&quot;:&quot;iframe_url&quot;}}\"><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>New technology estimates the health impact of air pollution in real time<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":89,"featured_media":43700,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"p4_campaign_name":"Corporate ICE\/ Clean Air Now","p4_local_project":"not set","p4_basket_name":"not set","p4_department":"","campaign_nav_type":"minimal","p4_hide_page_title_checkbox":"","p4_title":"Tracking the Cost of Air Pollution","p4_subtitle":"New technology estimates the health impact of air pollution in real time","p4_description":"","background_image_id":"43700","background_image":"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/planet4-international-stateless-release\/2020\/06\/a3ba2908-gp0storvf.jpg","p4_og_title":"","p4_og_description":"","p4_og_image":"","p4_og_image_id":"","p4-seo-canonical-url":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-29586","campaign","type-campaign","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/southeastasia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/campaign\/29586","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/southeastasia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/campaign"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/southeastasia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/campaign"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/southeastasia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/89"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/southeastasia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/campaign\/29586\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67413,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/southeastasia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/campaign\/29586\/revisions\/67413"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/southeastasia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43700"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/southeastasia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29586"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}