Damage To the Environment is the Reason behind Quarter of Global Premature Deaths: GEO

The Global Environment Outlook (GEO) found that the damage caused to the Environment by human made pollution is the reason behind 25% of premature deaths and diseases worldwide.

The Global Environment Outlook :

It is one of the most important International environmental reports.
It is the United Nations Environment Programme’s flagship environment assessment report.
First published in 1997, GEO is prepared through a participatory and consultative process.
It prepares an independent assessment of the state of environment and assess policy effectiveness vis a vis environmental challenges.
The GEO 2019 is the sixth report. It was six years in the making and 250 scientists from 70 nations participated in preparing the report.

Report Findings :

One of the key findings is that environmental damage is the leading caused for diseases and premature deaths worldwide.
Also, the report warned that there will be a rise in global epidemics due to emissions, polluted drinking water and destruction of ecosystems.
The report shows that overconsumption, food waste and pollution in the developed world is leading to poverty, disease and hunger elsewhere in the world.
It is well known that the rising greenhouse gas emissions are leading to droughts, superstorms , floods, threat of rising sea levels. But, not much is known about health emergencies due to pollution, mechanised food-chain, deforestation.
The GEO 2019 has brought out a list of health emergencies that might occur due to environment damage.
It states that 25% of global deaths, around 9 million in 2015 were due to poor environmental conditions.
Lack of access to clean drinking water caused 1.4 million deaths due to diseases like diarrhoea, and diseases due to water riddled with pathogens. All these are preventable diseases.
As per the report, chemicals pumped into the seas have the potential to causemulti-generational” adverse health effects.
In places where 3.2 billion people live, there is land degradation due to mega-farming and deforestation.
Annually, air pollution is causing 6-7 million deaths.

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Need Behaviour Detoxification :

The report calls for complete detoxification of current human behaviour calling that the present situation as unassailable.
It states that food waste accounts for 9% of global greenhouse gas emissions which can be reduced by changing the behaviour. Richer nations account for 56% of the food-waste.
The report also calls for rapid reduction in emissions and pesticide usage for quality air and water.

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Lessons For India :

Every other international environmental report showed that India will be the most hit due to climate change.
Now, the GEO report on environmental damage causing health emergencies is another thing that the country should worry due to its burgeoning population and weak public healthcare sector.
More steps are needed to be taken by the policy makers to rapidly reduce emissions in the country .
Also, effective policies must be brought out to reduce over-consumption in the country and promote sustainable ways of living.
GEO came at the right time to awaken the world to take effective steps in tackling the environmental issues which has become an existential question for the mankind.