NEW DELHI: Rising air pollution can cut life expectancy by more than five years per person in South Asia, one of the world's most polluted regions, according to a report published on Tuesday which flagged the growing burden of hazardous air on health.
The region, which includes the world's most polluted countries of Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan, accounts for more than half of the total life years lost globally to pollution, the University of Chicago's Energy Policy Institute (EPIC) said in its latest Air Quality Life Index.
Rapid industrialization and population growth have contributed to declining air quality in South Asia, where particulate pollution levels are currently more than 50% higher than at the start of the century and now overshadow dangers posed by larger health threats.
People in Bangladesh, the world's most polluted country, stands to lose 6.8 years of life on average per person, compared to 3.6 months in the United States, according to the study, which uses satellite data to calculate the impact of an increase in airborne fine particles on life expectancy.
India is responsible for about 59% of the world's increase in pollution since 2013, the report said, as hazardous air threatens to shorten lives further in some of the country's more polluted regions. In the densely populated New Delhi, the world's most polluted mega-city, the average life span is down by more than 10 years.
Reducing global levels of lung-damaging airborne particles, known as PM 2.5, to levels recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) could raise average life expectancy by 2.3 years, or a combined 17.8 billion life years, the report said.
An average resident of Pakistan would gain 3.9 years from meeting the WHO guidelines of limiting average annual PM 2.5 concentration to 5 micrograms per cubic meter, while someone in Nepal would live 4.6 years longer if the guideline was met, according to the report.
China, meanwhile, has worked to reduce pollution by 42.3% between 2013 and 2021, the report said, highlighting the need for governments to generate accessible air quality data to help bridge global inequalities in accessing tools to combat pollution.
Study shows air pollution jeopardizes life expectancy in South Asia, including Pakistan
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Study shows air pollution jeopardizes life expectancy in South Asia, including Pakistan
- The region has some of the world's most polluted countries where people have been facing huge health challenges
- The average Pakistani can gain 3.9 years by meeting World Health Organization guidelines on minimizing air pollution
‘Good sense’ hailed as blockbuster Pakistan-India match to go ahead
- Pakistan ends week-long standoff after ICC and regional boards intervene over boycott threat
- India-Pakistan clash seen as financial linchpin for tournament, with cancelation hurting all members
MUMBAI: Pakistan’s decision to U-turn and go ahead with their blockbuster Group A match against India at the T20 World Cup on February 15 was hailed Tuesday as an outbreak of “good sense” and “good for cricket.”
The Pakistan government in Islamabad late on Monday night ended a week-long stand-off by rescinding its order for the cricket team to boycott the match in Colombo.
The biggest and most lucrative clash in world cricket was revived after a frantic weekend of negotiations.
It culminated in International Cricket Council (ICC) and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chiefs flying to Lahore on Sunday for talks with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
The governments of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka both wrote to the Islamabad government on Monday urging it to change its stance and allow the game to go ahead, and just before midnight they got their wish.
After “multilateral discussions, as well as the request of friendly countries, the Government of Pakistan hereby directs the Pakistan National Cricket Team to take the field on February 15,” the Islamabad government said on its official X account late Monday night.
The decision had been taken with the aim of “protecting the spirit of cricket,” it added.
Former India cricketer Madan Lal told AFP on Tuesday: “Pakistan did shake up the ICC by repeatedly saying they would not play.
“Eventually, the ICC had to send officials to Pakistan to sort out the issue” and that was “good for cricket.”
“We want strong teams to play so that the charm of the World Cup is not lost,” he added.
‘LOSS-LOSS SITUATION’
Sri Lanka, who will host the match which generates multi-millions of dollars in advertising, broadcast rights, sponsorship and tourism, also hailed the decision.
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake thanked Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for “ensuring the game we all love goes on.”
“Delighted that the eagerly awaited India and Pakistan match at the ongoing T20 Cricket World Cup in Colombo will proceed as planned,” Dissanayake said in a social media post.
Veteran Indian journalist Pradeep Magazine told AFP “good sense has prevailed on all sides.”
Financial considerations would have been taken into account, he added.
“India-Pakistan is not just about cricket revenue — it also means wider commercial revenue,” he said.
“Everyone realized that losing the revenue from an India-Pakistan match would have been a loss-loss situation for all ICC member nations.”
Bitter political rivals Pakistan and India have not played bilateral cricket for more than a decade and meet only at global or regional tournament events, and only on neutral territory.
The 20-team tournament had been overshadowed by an acrimonious political build-up.
Bangladesh, who refused to play in India citing security concerns, were replaced by Scotland.
As a protest, the Pakistan government ordered the team not to face co-hosts India in the Group A fixture.
Pakistan, who edged out Netherlands in the tournament opener on Saturday, would have conceded two points if they had forfeited the match, which could have put their chances of progressing in the tournament in jeopardy.
They play the USA in their second group match in Colombo later Tuesday.
India captain Suryakumar Yadav said on Friday that his team would travel to Colombo for the clash, whether the game was on or not.
“We haven’t said no to playing them,” Suryakumar said. “Our flights are booked and we are going to Colombo.”
