Home
/
RELIGION & LIBERTY ONLINE
/
The high cost of air pollution: trillions of dollars and millions of premature deaths
The high cost of air pollution: trillions of dollars and millions of premature deaths
Sep 11, 2025 11:57 PM

Air pollution is now the world’s fourth-leading fatal health risk, causing one in ten deaths in 2013. According to a new study by the World Bank, the premature deaths due to air pollution costs the global economy about $225 billion in lost labor e, or about $5.11 trillion in welfare losses worldwide. That is about the size of the gross domestic product of India, Canada, and bined, notes the report

While we tend to think of air pollution as occurring in the urban areas of the developed world, most of the deaths are due to poor air quality in rural and underdeveloped regions:

Billions of people around the world continue to depend on burning solid fuels such as wood, charcoal, coal, and dung in their homes for cooking and heating. Consequently, the health risk posed by air pollution is the greatest in developing countries. In 2013 about 93 percent of deaths and nonfatal illnesses attributed to air pollution worldwide occurred in these countries, where 90 percent of the population was exposed to dangerous levels of air pollution. Children under age 5 in e countries are more than 60times as likely to die from exposure to air pollution as children in e countries.

While the monetary cost of air pollution is shocking, it’s likely even more than is estimated in the report. “The figure could be very much more if it included health costs,” said Urvashi Narain, lead author and senior environmental economist for the World Bank. “We did not include the costs of [morbidity] illnesses caused by pollution.”

“The scale of the problem is truly daunting,” added Narain. “The poor are more likely to live in polluted areas and are less able to access healthcare.”

These economic costs of air pollution have also increased significantly over time, claimsthe report. Between 1990 and 2013, total welfare losses due to premature mortality from exposure to air pollution increased by 94 percent. Damages from exposure to ambient air pollution also rose by 63 percent between 1990 and 2013, to $3.552 trillion, while damages from household air pollution from cooking with solid fuels rose by 287 percent, to $1.516 trillion.

Comments
Welcome to mreligion comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
RELIGION & LIBERTY ONLINE
Verse of the Day
  Commentary on Today's Verse   Commentary on 1 Peter 3:8-13   (Read 1 Peter 3:8-13)   Though Christians cannot always be exactly of the same mind, yet they should have compassion one of another, and love as brethren. If any man desires to live comfortably on earth, or to possess eternal life in heaven, he must bridle his tongue from wicked, abusive, or...
Verse of the Day
  Commentary on Today's Verse   Commentary on Psalm 32:8-11   (Read Psalm 32:8-11)   God teaches by his word, and guides with the secret intimations of his will. David gives a word of caution to sinners. The reason for this caution is, that the way of sin will certainly end in sorrow. Here is a word of comfort to saints. They may see...
Verse of the Day
  Hebrews 4:12 In-Context   10 for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from their works,Or labor just as God did from his.   11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.   12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword,...
Verse of the Day
  Commentary on Today's Verse   Commentary on Proverbs 17:10   (Read Proverbs 17:10)   A gentle reproof will enter, not only into the head, but into the heart of a wise man.   Proverbs 17:10 In-Context   8 A bribe is seen as a charm by the one who gives it; they think success will come at every turn.   9 Whoever would foster love covers...
Verse of the Day
  Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 In-Context   8 I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a haremThe meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain. as well-the delights of a man's heart.   9 I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom...
Verse of the Day
  Commentary on Today's Verse   Commentary on James 1:19-21   (Read James 1:19-21)   Instead of blaming God under our trials, let us open our ears and hearts to learn what he teaches by them. And if men would govern their tongues, they must govern their passions. The worst thing we can bring to any dispute, is anger. Here is an exhortation to...
Verse of the Day
  Commentary on Today's Verse   Complete Concise   Chapter Contents   Believers are to dedicate themselves to God. (1,2) To be humble, and faithfully to use their spiritual gifts, in their respective stations. (3-8) Exhortations to various duties. (9-16) And to peaceable conduct towards all men, with forbearance and benevolence. (17-21)   Commentary on Romans 12:1-2   (Read Romans 12:1-2)   The apostle having closed the...
Verse of the Day
  Commentary on Today's Verse   Commentary on Deuteronomy 30:15-20   (Read Deuteronomy 30:15-20)   What could be said more moving, and more likely to make deep and lasting impressions? Every man wishes to obtain life and good, and to escape death and evil; he desires happiness, and dreads misery. So great is the compassion of the Lord, that he has favoured men, by...
Verse of the Day
  Commentary on Today's Verse   Commentary on Ephesians 6:1-4   (Read Ephesians 6:1-4)   The great duty of children is, to obey their parents. That obedience includes inward reverence, as well as outward acts, and in every age prosperity has attended those distinguished for obedience to parents. The duty of parents. Be not impatient; use no unreasonable severities. Deal prudently and wisely with...
Verse of the Day
  Proverbs 6:6-11 In-Context   4 Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids.   5 Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.   6 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!   7 It has no commander, no overseer or ruler,   8 yet...
Related Classification
Copyright 2023-2025 - www.mreligion.com All Rights Reserved