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Air pollution, climate change and international (in) action
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.
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
Title of book
Emerald handbook of crime, justice and sustainable developmentChapter number
25Pagination
533 - 550Publisher
Emerald Publishing LimitedPlace of publication
Bingley, Eng.Publisher DOI
ISBN-13
9781787693562Language
engPublication classification
B1 Book chapterExtent
26Editor/Contributor(s)
Jarrett Blaustein, Kate Fitz-Gibbon, Nathan Pino, Rob WhiteUsage metrics
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