The World Bank reported that air pollution leads to approximately 5.7 million deaths each year, with 95% of fatalities occurring in low- and middle-income nations. It also causes economic losses amounting to 5% of global GDP due to health impacts, productivity decline, and reduced life expectancy.
According to the World Bank’s report Accelerating Access to Clean Air on a Livable Planet, air pollution significantly harms public health and the economy, leading to a loss of around 5% of the global gross domestic product (GDP).
The report highlights that human activities are the primary source of outdoor air pollution. Key contributors include agriculture, urbanization, transportation, industry, and household activities like cooking and heating. Implementing policies in these sectors can help lower harmful particulate matter levels.
An integrated strategy combining energy independence, emission reduction, and air pollution control could reduce the number of people exposed to unhealthy air by half by 2040. Reliable and transparent air quality monitoring is essential for assessing policy effectiveness.
Policies that address multiple challenges simultaneously—such as reducing emissions while enhancing energy security—are both cost-effective and beneficial. The economic advantages of such strategies could amount to $2.4 trillion by 2040.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that his upcoming reciprocal tariffs will apply to all nations, rather than just targeting the 10 to 15 countries with the largest trade imbalances. Trump plans to unveil the tariff package on Wednesday, calling it “Liberation Day.”
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is attempting to back out of a critical minerals deal, warning that such a move would bring serious repercussions.
Bangladesh’s main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has warned of public unrest if elections are not held by December, following remarks from interim leader Muhammad Yunus suggesting a possible delay until 2026.
Over 300,000 Canadians were left without power on Sunday as a severe ice storm battered parts of Ontario, according to electricity provider Hydro One. The storm brought freezing rain and ice pellets over the weekend, with power outages continuing into Monday morning in some regions.
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen is awaiting a critical court ruling on Monday that could determine her political future. Le Pen, head of the National Rally (RN), faces accusations of embezzling over 3 million euros ($3.3 million) of European Parliament funds to pay France-based staff.
Myanmar declared seven days of national mourning after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar, causing over 1,700 deaths, 3,400 injuries, and leaving more than 300 missing. Flags will be flown at half-staff during the mourning period.
A French court has found far-right leader Marine Le Pen guilty of misappropriating EU funds, potentially barring her from the 2027 presidential race. Le Pen, head of the National Rally, faces a five-year ban from public office, which could significantly impact French politics.
Iran has readied missiles capable of striking U.S.-related positions, responding to President Trump's escalating threats of military action if Tehran does not agree to his terms for a new nuclear agreement.
Neuralink plans to implant its first Blindsight vision chip in a human by the end of the year, enabling vision for those born blind, according to Elon Musk. The device could eventually surpass natural vision, allowing users to see in infrared, ultraviolet, and radar ranges.
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) pilots, monitoring a Chinese navy warship as it navigated Australian waters, were alerted to a live-fire exercise via a civilian radio broadcast, defense officials revealed on Tuesday.
A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar’s Sagaing region, followed by a 6.4-magnitude tremor, killing more than 1,700 people and leaving 3,400 injured. The quake caused building collapses in Myanmar and Thailand, prompting emergency declarations and ongoing rescue efforts.
As the world shifts toward clean energy at an ever-accelerating pace, large economies are scrambling to secure reliable supply chains for rare earth minerals. These minerals, once seen as mere industrial components, have become a political tool in the global power struggle
Russian forces carried out a drone attack on Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, late Wednesday, injuring at least twenty one people and causing structural damage, according to Ukrainian officials.
France, Italy, and Slovakia have urged the EU to simplify its carbon border levy rules this year, calling for reduced red tape and standardized emissions calculations to ease the burden on businesses.
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) officially confirmed that 2024 was a record year for renewables additions to global power capacity. Renewables represented more than 92 per cent of all new electricity generation capacity installed last year.
The Sydney opera house, and other iconic national monuments round the world turned off their lights at 8:30pm local time to commemorate earth hour.
A new national forest stretching from the Cotswolds to the Mendips is set to be created, the UK government has announced. 20 million trees set to be planted across the West of England in the coming decades, creating at least 2,500 hectares of new woodland.
Glaciers around the world are melting at an alarming rate, with the last three years seeing the largest mass loss on record, according to a UNESCO report. The accelerated ice loss, driven by climate change, is contributing to rising sea levels.
Myanmar declared seven days of national mourning after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar, causing over 1,700 deaths, 3,400 injuries, and leaving more than 300 missing. Flags will be flown at half-staff during the mourning period.
A French court has found far-right leader Marine Le Pen guilty of misappropriating EU funds, potentially barring her from the 2027 presidential race. Le Pen, head of the National Rally, faces a five-year ban from public office, which could significantly impact French politics.
Iran has readied missiles capable of striking U.S.-related positions, responding to President Trump's escalating threats of military action if Tehran does not agree to his terms for a new nuclear agreement.
Neuralink plans to implant its first Blindsight vision chip in a human by the end of the year, enabling vision for those born blind, according to Elon Musk. The device could eventually surpass natural vision, allowing users to see in infrared, ultraviolet, and radar ranges.
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