Economy
Air pollution shortens life expectancy in Bangladesh by average 4.8 years: WHO
Bangladesh is the world’s most polluted country and particulate air pollution (PM2.5) shortens the average Bangladeshi resident’s life expectancy by 4.8 years, relative to what it would be if the World Health Organisation (WHO) guideline of 5 µg/m³ were met, says a new global report released today (28 August).
It said some areas of Bangladesh fare much worse than others, such as the Gazipur and Narsingdi districts, where air pollution is shortening lives by more than 6 years.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Bangladesh’s 166.4 million people live in areas where the annual average particulate pollution level exceeds the WHO guideline and 96.8 percent of the country’s population live in regions that don’t meet the country’s own national standard of 35 µg/m³.
Even in the least polluted district of Sylhet, particulate pollution is 6.7 times the WHO guideline.
While particulate pollution takes 4.8 years off the life of the average Bangladeshi, tobacco use takes off 2 years and child and maternal malnutrition takes off 1.4 years.
In 2022, particulate pollution was 22 percent lower relative to 2021—a contrast to the increasing trend between 2015-2021. If the reduction in 2022 is sustained, an average Bangladeshi resident would live 1 year longer compared to what they would if they were exposed to the average pollution levels over the last decade.
In some of the most polluted districts of the country spread across the states of Dhaka and Chattogram, 75.9 million residents or 45.6 percent of Bangladesh’s population are on track to lose 5.4 years of life expectancy on average relative to the WHO guideline.
If Bangladesh were to reduce particulate pollution to meet the WHO guideline, residents in Dhaka—the most populous district in Bangladesh—would gain 5.6 years of life expectancy. In Chattogram—the country’s second most populous district—residents would gain 5.2 years. Even if pollution levels in Dhaka and
Chattogram were to meet Bangladesh’s national standard, life expectancy in these districts would increase by 2.6 and 2.3 years, respectively.
Air Pollution Remains the Greatest External Risk to Human Health
While pollution slightly dipped due largely to a trend reversal in South Asia, more than three-quarters of countries around the world have not set or aren’t meeting national pollution standards.
Though global pollution was slightly lower in 2022, its burden on life expectancy remains, according to new data from the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI).
If the world were to permanently reduce fine particulate pollution (PM2.5) to meet the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) guideline, the average person would add 1.9 years onto their life expectancy—or a combined 14.9 billion life-years saved worldwide.
This data makes clear that particulate pollution is the world’s greatest external risk to human health. Its impact on life expectancy is comparable to that of smoking, more than 4 times that of high alcohol use, more than 5 times that of transport injuries like car crashes, and more than 6 times that of HIV/AIDS.
Yet, the pollution challenge worldwide is vastly unequal, with people living in the most polluted places on earth breathing air that is six times more polluted than the air breathed by those living in the least polluted places—and seeing their lives cut short by 2.7 years more because of it.
“While air pollution remains a global problem, its largest impacts are concentrated in a relatively small number of countries—cutting lives short several years in some places and even more than 6 years in some regions,” says Michael Greenstone, the Milton Friedman Distinguished Service Professor in Economics and creator of the AQLI along with colleagues at the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC).
“All too often, high pollution concentrations reflect low ambition in setting policy or a failure to successfully enforce existing policies. As countries balance their economic, health, and environmental goals, the AQLI will continue to shine a light on the longer lives that air pollution reductions deliver.”
National standards are an important tool to set strong policies and improve air quality. These standards—some strong and some weak—reflect the multiple policy goals countries have as they balance economic, environmental, and health goals.
However, a third of the world’s population lives in regions that don’t meet the standards that their countries have set.
If those countries did meet their own benchmarks, these 3 billion people would live an average of 1.2 years longer.
“Setting ambitious standards is only one part of the puzzle,” says Tanushree Ganguly, the director of the AQLI. “Equally important is implementing policies and monitoring mechanisms that help enforce these standards. Some countries are succeeding in this, and that gives proof that air pollution is a solvable problem.”
While 37 out of 94 countries with standards aren’t meeting them, more than half of all countries and territories have not set a standard at all. Together, 77 percent of countries and territories worldwide have either not met or do not have a national standard.
Of the countries with no standard, almost none (less than 1 percent) of the governments provide fully open pollution data and two-thirds don’t have any government pollution monitoring. With little data, it is difficult to set pollution standards and enforce them.
To help confront this challenge, this year EPIC launched the EPIC Air Quality Fund to support local groups and organizations in installing monitors and providing open data to communities that could benefit the most.
“Highly polluted countries that have little or no air quality data often fall into a bad feedback cycle where having little data leads to little attention or policy investment in the issue which reinforces little demand for data,” says Christa Hasenkopf, the director of the Clean Air Program at EPIC.
“Fortunately, there is a massive opportunity to stop this cycle with even a small amount of persistent, open-air quality data. Such data is essential for crafting and reinforcing national standards.”
South Asia
Global pollution declined in 2022 due almost entirely to a trend reversal in South Asia. While pollution had been on the rise for more than a decade, it declined by 18 percent in one year.
While it’s difficult to know for sure the reasons for this decline, meteorological causes—such as above-normal rainfall—likely played a strong role and only time will tell whether policy changes are having an impact.
Even with the decline, the region remains the most polluted in the world, accounting for 45 percent of total life years lost due to high pollution.
The average person living in these countries would gain 3.5 years onto their lives if pollution were permanently reduced to meet the World Health Organisation guideline.
Economy
UN General Assembly Adopts Resolution Backing ICJ’s Ruling on Israel’s Occupation of Palestinian Territories
The United Nations General Assembly, during its 10th Emergency Special Session, adopted a landmark resolution endorsing the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) advisory opinion, which declared Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories as illegal under international law. The resolution, initiated by Palestine, garnered the co-sponsorship of 53 countries, including Bangladesh, as per a statement received today.
The resolution was passed on Wednesday through a vote, with 124 countries in favor, 14 against, and 43 abstaining. Bangladesh, as a co-sponsor, voted in favor of the resolution.
During the debate at the General Assembly, Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Muhammad Abdul Muhith, delivered the nation’s statement. Muhith praised the ICJ’s advisory opinion, describing it as historic, and urged all member states to comply with the ruling. He also expressed deep concern over the ongoing violence and high civilian casualties in Gaza, calling for an immediate ceasefire, referencing UN Security Council resolution 2728.
Ambassador Muhith emphasized that a two-state solution, based on the pre-1967 borders of Palestine, is the only viable path to achieving lasting peace in the Middle East. He commended the roles played by the ICJ and the International Criminal Court in holding Israel accountable for illegal occupation and atrocity crimes in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
The permanent representative also acknowledged the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, who have addressed the severe humanitarian and human rights crisis unfolding in Gaza.
The resolution, in line with the ICJ’s recent verdict, calls on Israel to cease its illegal presence in Palestine, marking the first step toward ending its military campaign in Gaza. It further advocates for the creation of an international mechanism to provide reparations for damages, losses, or injuries resulting from Israel’s internationally wrongful actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Additionally, the resolution requests the UN Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of these directives. It also emphasizes the need for accountability regarding atrocity crimes committed by Israel, particularly in light of the Fourth Geneva Convention on the protection of civilians during conflict.
The General Assembly has also resolved to convene an international conference within the next year, aimed at finding a pathway to establishing an independent Palestinian state. This resolution is widely seen as a significant step toward resolving the Middle East crisis through the implementation of the two-state solution.
The government has decided to import 4 lakh tonnes of wheat and 2 lakh tonnes of rice in a proactive move to secure the nation’s food supply. The decision was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs during a meeting held on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, chaired by Finance and Commerce Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed.
This import initiative will take place within 15 days of tender submissions through government-to-government (G2G) arrangements, aimed at swiftly addressing potential food shortages.
While the current food grain stock is stable, Dr Salehuddin emphasized that the import decision is a preventive measure. “Although immediate imports aren’t necessary at this moment, we aim to eliminate any risk of food shortages and assure the public that both food grains and fertilisers will remain available,” he stated.
Regarding pricing, a provisional rate for the food grains has been established, but final prices will be confirmed prior to import execution.
The committee also approved reducing the timeline for international tenders for rice and wheat imports from 42 days to 15 days, starting from the tender advertisement date. This adjustment is expected to expedite the import process and maintain a steady supply chain.
Moreover, the government has greenlit the G2G procurement of rice and shortened procurement procedures as per Rule 83 of the Public Procurement Rules 2008. Both international open tenders and G2G agreements will be used to uphold food security and ensure effective distribution.
For the fiscal year 2024-25, the government aims to collect 3.5 lakh tonnes of rice from international sources and 19.23 lakh tonnes from domestic producers. The wheat target stands at 7 lakh tonnes from international markets and 10,000 tonnes locally.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not expected to meet Bangladesh interim government chief Muhammad Yunus on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly next week, people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.
Earlier this month, the Bangladesh side made a formal request for a meeting on the sidelines of the General Assembly, which both leaders are set to attend. Dhaka was keen on a meeting in the hope it would help clear the air over irritants that have emerged in bilateral ties since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government, the people said on condition of anonymity.
The people said such a meeting is not part of the Indian side’s agenda. Besides, Modi will have a packed schedule for his three-day visit to the US, as he is set to attend the Quad Leaders’ Summit in Wilmington, Delaware, on September 21 and address the Summit of the Future at the UN General Assembly on September 23.
“The PM is expected to have some bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the General Assembly in New York but a meeting with the head of Bangladesh’s interim government isn’t on the schedule,” one of the people cited above said.
Besides scheduling issues, comments by Yunus on India-Bangladesh relations in a recent interview and near-daily remarks by members of the interim government in Dhaka perceived as critical of India have not gone down well in New Delhi.
In the interview, Yunus criticised former premier Sheikh Hasina for commenting on developments in Bangladesh while in exile in India. He suggested Bangladesh could seek her extradition and said India should move beyond the “narrative” that every political party other than Hasina’s Awami League is “Islamist”.
Other members of the interim government, including de facto foreign minister Touhid Hossain, have repeatedly raked up the possibility of seeking the extradition of Hasina, who fled to India after stepping down on August 5. Hossain also acknowledged any such move would create an “embarrassing situation for the Indian government”.
India’s leadership has said Hasina was granted approval to come to the country at short notice. Hasina has been largely incommunicado while in India, where she is at an undisclosed safe location. The external affairs ministry has refused to be drawn out on any possible Bangladeshi request for her extradition, describing it as a hypothetical matter.
The people cited above said a meeting between Modi and former US president Donald Trump too was not part of the Indian side’s agenda though an encounter between the two leaders in New York could not be ruled out.
Trump said at a campaign event in Flint, Michigan, on Tuesday that he will meet Modi next week but gave no details on where the meeting would be held. Trump also said India was a “very big abuser” of the US-India trade relationship. Some other world leaders who visited the US in recent months for meetings with President Joe Biden and other multilateral events have met Trump as well.
