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A new study by Harvard University and three British universities has found that 8.7 million deaths each year are caused by breathing in particulate-polluted air, with nearly one in five deaths worldwide directly linked to the burning of fossil fuels. The worst affected areas are North America, Europe and Southeast Asia. Despite the push towards renewable energy, approximately 85% of the world’s energy is still supplied by fossil fuels.
The push to end humanity’s dependence on fossil fuels is becoming ever more urgent, according to the latest research. While previous studies had established that about 4.2 million people died each year from breathing in particulate-polluted air, that research didn’t distinguish between deaths caused by fossil fuel emissions and those related to other airborne particles.
The 2018 study, by Harvard University in collaboration with three British universities, concluded that the actual number is more than double what was previously believed, at 8.7 million deaths. This means nearly one in five deaths worldwide are directly linked to the burning of fossil fuels, which can cause asthma, cancer, coronary heart disease and other illnesses.
“We cannot in good conscience continue to rely on fossil fuels, when we know there are such serious health effects and viable, cleaner alternatives,” said Eloise Marais, co-author of the study. According to the research, the areas with the worst levels of air pollution from fossil fuels include North America, Europe and Southeast Asia.
Fossil Fuel Facts:
Many of the fossil fuels used by humanity began to form over 300 million years ago, during the Carboniferous period.
In 2019, US consumption of renewable energy surpassed coal consumption for the first time in more than 130 years.
However, despite the push towards renewable energy, approximately 85% of the world’s energy is supplied by fossil fuels.
