According to a new report from The World Bank, pollution from open fires, diesel engines and methane gas released from livestock, landfills and mining operations; are some of the pollutants scientists say must quickly be curtailed to protect human welfare and tackle climate change.
The report, On Thin Ice: How Cutting Pollution Can Slow Warming and Save Lives, say by the end of the century the release of large carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane stores could contribute to up to 30 per cent more carbon into the atmosphere.
The report also says that current warming in the cryosphere could have dismal human consequences resulting from sea level rises, water stress and more extreme weather.
“The health of people around the world will improve greatly if we reduce emissions of black carbon and methane. Limiting these emissions also will be an important contributor to the fight against climate change,” said Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group.
Reductions in emissions from diesel transport and equipment, meanwhile, could result in more than 16 million tons of additional produce in crops such as rice, soy and wheat, especially in Southeast Asia; and also avert 340,000 premature deaths, the report states.
Additionally it would slow the rapid melting in the Arctic and mountain regions with glaciers, such as the Himalayas and would bring multiple health, crop and ecosystem benefits; while decreasing risks of flooding and water shortages.
A continued warming in the cryosphere could cause a rise in sea levels that would affect more than 100 million people globally.
It would also threaten water resources on which 1.5 billion people just in the Himalayan region depend, and a loss of permafrost or frozen soil that that would then release as much as 30 per cent more carbon into the atmosphere by 2100 according to the report.
“The cryosphere is changing fast as a result of climate change, it is changing today, and those changes bring increased risk to ecosystems and human societies,” said Pam Pearson, Director of the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative, who produced the report with the World Bank.
The report looks at ways to curb emissions from cook stoves, forest burning, fossil fuel extraction and diesel transportation that could help preserve the cryosphere.
While improved wood and coal heating stoves could save 230,000 lives, while a 50 per cent drop in open field and forest burning could result in 190,000 fewer deaths every year.
“Reductions in short-lived climate pollutants cannot be made in isolation from efforts to reduce other greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide,” said Sameer Akbar, a senior environmental specialist at the World Bank and a co-author of the report.
“But black carbon and methane reductions can slow the warming impact in the near-term, including in regions covered with snow and ice. That would buy us some much-needed time to help communities adapt to the changing climate,” he added.
“Our aim is to work with countries to transform investments that have an impact on pollutants like black carbon into investments that reduce emissions where ever possible,” said Rachel Kyte, World Bank Vice President for Sustainable Development.
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See how the World bank is attacking in a very bold way basic human rights to use even basic fuels such as wood & diesel. Also on their hate list is Methane from livestock?? WTF – they are 100% mental, but of course under ‘green cover’ want to tax the average Joe (you & me) for the luxury of using these basic items.
The Word Bank doesn’t care about us or the Environment – they want to raise 100 Trillion as they laid-out on their website. They want to ‘Finance’ (loan trillions) to fund low carbon cities. Its a massive scam again for money to ‘build more stuff’ – not for the Environment……