We can’t afford out-of-control smog

Governments must stop counting the cost of tackling air pollution and see the cost of doing nothing, writes Simon Upton

Air pollution takes years off people’s lives. It causes substantial pain and suffering, among adults and children alike. And it damages food production, at a time when we need to feed more people than ever. This is not just an economic issue; it is a moral one.

Air pollution can be produced both outdoors and indoors. For the poorest families, indoor smog from coal- or dung-fired cooking stoves is typically the more serious problem. As economies develop and start to electrify, motorise, and urbanise, outdoor air pollution becomes the bigger issue.