Existing technologies 'could save millions of lives'

Measurements that are based on existing technologies and that can be implemented immediately could save millions of lives, according to new research by Drew Shindell from NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies.

Limiting how much soot and methane reaches the atmosphere using existing technologies alone could save almost five million lives a year, and increase global crop yields significantly, according to the report. It could also slow global warming down by around half a degree by 2050.

Countries that would benefit the most from reducing soot and methane are central and northern Asia, southern Africa and the Mediterranean. Asia and Africa could see between 700,000 and 4.7 million premature deaths avoided if the pollutants were cut.

Crop yields in China, India, the US, Pakistan and Brazil could increase by between 30 million and 135 million tonnes every year.

The findings are significant, but implementing the results into action is what really counts. The lack of comprehensive global action and mountain resistance from countries whose economies rely on cheap fuel could significantly hinder the chances of these results being achievable.

However, limiting pollutants to soot and methane certainly make targets appear more manageable.

Posted by Lauren Steadman