The world’s energy choices are directly impacting our health

It is well-known that places that suffer from high pollution also have high levels of ill health, largely related to respiratory issues. But it is now estimated that lung cancer in people who have never smoked cigarettes or tobacco is the fifth highest cause of cancer deaths worldwide.

The World Health Organization’s cancer agency has said air pollution is an “important factor” in these numbers. And the International Agency for Research on Cancer has said lung cancer in those who have never smoked is occurring almost exclusively as adenocarcinoma. Smoking is the primary cause of this type of cancer, which can develop in various parts of the body, such as the stomach, breasts and, of course, lungs.

But let’s be brutally honest here, people who smoke do so in the knowledge that this habit raises the risk of them getting cancer, putting a strain on society and those around them.

People who have never smoked would have to live in a bubble to avoid the risks posed to them and the rest of the population.

During Donald Trump’s inauguration last month, he said that he would once again sign an executive order taking the US out of the Paris Agreement on climate change, which seeks to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases globally. He pledged to ramp up the US’ use of fossil fuels — the biggest cause of air pollution in the world — with the jubilant rabble-rouser, “drill, baby, drill.”

So, while many countries turn toward greener energy sources such as wind, tidal and solar, the US will rely on the fuels that do the most harm.

In another executive order, Trump said he was eliminating what he claimed was the US’ “electric vehicle mandate” — for the record, there has never been a federal mandate to prevent Americans buying petrol-powered cars, despite his claim to the contrary.

Ironically, the last time the US pulled out of the Paris Agreement, it weakened America’s stance on all things climate-related and empowered China, which pushed ahead with its efforts and met its 2030 renewables targets six years early. China has also installed more solar and wind power than any other country, despite being one of the world’s biggest polluters.

While many countries turn toward greener energy sources, the US will rely on the fuels that do the most harm

Peter Harrison

Closer to home, the UAE continues to suffer from high levels of pollution, but it is making efforts to reduce this by expanding its public transport network — as is Saudi Arabia.

The UAE has recently pushed employers to allow, and even encourage, their employees to work from home for at least part of the week — a move that will inevitably reduce the number of vehicles on the roads and, in turn, the amount of pollution in the air.

There are many things that need improving, but Saudi Arabia has pledged that, by 2030, 30 percent of all vehicles on Riyadh’s roads will be electric.

In the UAE, there are plans to create a national network of charging facilities and, in Dubai, free parking for EVs, as well as free Salik (road toll) tags and other incentives.

The Gulf region is clearly aware that it has some way to go to reduce the pollution in its air, but with such policies governments can surely make a significant difference to the health of their nations.

That is not to say EVs are completely pollution-free: the creation of various components pose risks to the environment. But they are significantly less harmful overall, according to the Transport and Environment website, which states: “In the worst-case scenario, an electric car with a battery produced in China and driven in Poland still emits 37 percent less carbon dioxide than petrol. And in the best-case scenario, an electric car with a battery produced in Sweden and driven in Sweden can emit 83 percent less than petrol.”

It is quite clear that, if the world’s industries continue to burn fossil fuels, then the health of the world will not improve and, in the case of those who have never smoked, potentially get worse.

And do not be fooled into thinking that you are less at risk of developing cancer if you live in a wealthy country. According to the World Cancer Research Fund, richer developed nations have higher rates of cancer per head of population than poorer countries. And it should be noted that richer countries are also the biggest polluters.

It is quite clear that, if the world’s industries continue to burn fossil fuels, then the health of the world will not improve

Peter Harrison

Admittedly, the survival rate is greater in richer, more developed countries, but would it not be better if the world did something to reduce the risks altogether?

It seems clear that getting people out of their fossil fuel-thirsty vehicles would go a long way to reducing the number of people impacted by lung cancer and other health complaints.

Surely it is time to put the survival of the planet and its occupants ahead of profits. If that means rethinking the way we run our economies, then so be it — a healthy person is less costly to society than someone in need of cancer treatment. The World Bank estimates that the cost of health damage caused by air pollution to be $8.1 trillion a year.

If left solely to those in positions of power, we will see some change for the better in some parts of the world. But we as consumers can also make a difference through the choices we make. We can buy more fuel-efficient vehicles, turn electrical devices off when we are not using them and use lightbulbs that consume less power (for example, LEDs use up to 90 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs).

Even small things contribute to reducing the amount of power we use and, in turn, the amount of pollution produced.

You might not think it is worth the effort, since the changes will barely be noticeable in the immediate future. But if not for us, then why not for our children or our children’s children?

And consider this: during the COVID-19 pandemic, when much of the world was in lockdown, the air was cleaner — the world was literally breathing more easily as the level of pollutants that directly impact our health dropped significantly.

• Peter Harrison is a senior editor at Arab News in the Dubai office. He has covered the Middle East for more than a decade. X: @PhotoPJHarrison