The burning of fossil fuels is the single largest contributor to climate change – with UN climate scientists estimating that 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 90% of all carbon dioxide emissions. However, the massive, more immediate, negative public health impacts of the air pollution caused by the burning of fossil fuels isn’t as well known.
In recent years, academic researchers, scientists and health professionals have begun to piece together the huge impact of this hidden killer.
A study carried out by researchers from several universities – including Harvard and University College London – published in 2021 showed that 8.7 million people died from air pollution linked to the burning of fossil fuels in 2018, around 1 – in 5 of the total deaths globally. This is more than twice what was previously thought to be the case. Last March, researchers from Imperial College London’s Environmental Research Group produced a report which concluded that air pollution causes harm to people at all stages of life.
Join our event to hear more from health professionals, transport and climate change campaigners who are calling for the end of the fossil fuel era.
Moderator: David Hillman, Director of Stamp Out Poverty, the Fossil Fuel Treaty’s UK affiliate.
Speakers:
Dr. Arvind Kumar - Chair, Institute of Chest Surgery, Chest Onco Surgery and Lung Transplantation at Medanta Hospital, New Delhi and, Founder Trustee of the Lung Care Foundation
Barbara Stoll – Director of Transport & Environment’s Clean Cities Campaign
Dr. Ian Mudway – member of the Medical Research Council’s Centre for Environment & Health
Jess Beagley - Policy Lead at the The Global Climate and Health Alliance
A senior representative, the Greater London Authority
This event is organised by Stamp Out Poverty and the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. It is taking place in the framework of the London Climate Action Week (LCAW2023) and is supported by the Mayor of London.
