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Air pollution, climate change and international (in) action

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posted on 2020-11-18, 00:00 authored by Reece WaltersReece Walters
In 2018, the World Health Organization released its latest report on air pollution identifying that seven million people die annually as a result of poor air quality. Moreover, it is estimated that 90% of the world’s population is exposed to ‘dangerous levels’ of air pollution (WHO, 2018a). This is an alarming news, given the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal number three seeks to ‘substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemical and air, water and soil pollution and contamination’ (WHO, 2016). In addition, the WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has publicly stated that ‘…air pollution threatens us all, but the poorest and most marginalised people bear the brunt of the burden… If we don’t take urgent action on air pollution, we will never come close to achieving sustainable development’ (WHO, 2018b). This chapter explores the political economy of global air pollution including an analysis of international trade that perpetuates and exacerbates emissions and the environmental injustices associated with global warming and air quality ill health. It also draws on discourses of power, harm and violence to analyse air pollution and climate change within frameworks of green criminology and atmospheric justice.

History

Chapter number

25

Pagination

533-550

ISBN-13

9781787693562

Language

eng

Publication classification

B1 Book chapter

Extent

26

Editor/Contributor(s)

Blaustein J, Fitz-Gibbon K, Pino N, White R

Publisher

Emerald Publishing Limited

Place of publication

Bingley, Eng.

Title of book

Emerald handbook of crime, justice and sustainable development

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