Sustainable development
Green products not only refer to the green origin and the sustainability of the products, but also include green production processes.
The excessive use of fossil fuels has led to severe environmental problems—air pollution, the greenhouse effect, resource depletion, and more.
The use of petroleum resources not only leads to a dramatic surge in plastic waste but also exacerbates the problem of severe air pollution, threatening both the health of our planet and our own well-being. Each year, one in five premature deaths worldwide is directly linked to the combustion of fossil fuels—this figure doesn’t even account for fatalities caused by climate change-related impacts, such as extreme heat, storms, wildfires, droughts, and floods.
One in five premature deaths worldwide is caused by the burning of fossil fuels.
According to research from Harvard University and other institutions, in 2018, illnesses and deaths caused by inhaling pollutants emitted from fossil fuels accounted for 18% of global mortality—nearly one in five deaths worldwide. From this perspective, it’s fair to say that burning fossil fuels contributes to nearly one-fifth of all premature deaths worldwide. Here are the specific details:
Research Overview: This study was conducted in collaboration between Harvard University and the Universities of Birmingham, Leicester, and University College London, and was published on February 9, 2021, in the journal *Environmental Research*. Researchers utilized real-world emission data and meteorological records—primarily from 2012—to account for the influence of the El Niño phenomenon. Their findings revealed that in 2018, approximately 18% of global deaths were attributable to illnesses caused by inhaling pollutants emitted from fossil fuels, nearly one-fifth of all fatalities worldwide.
Regional disparities: The study found that China, India, parts of the eastern United States, Europe, and Southeast Asia are among the most severely affected regions. Data reveal that 30.7% of deaths in East Asia, 16.8% in Europe, and 13.1% in the U.S. can be attributed to fossil fuel pollution.
Previously, other studies have also provided relevant data and conclusions. For instance, a 2020 report released by Greenpeace Southeast Asia and the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air revealed that air pollution from fossil fuel combustion leads to approximately 4.5 million premature deaths worldwide each year. While the figures vary slightly, they all underscore that the number of premature deaths linked to fossil fuel burning is far too significant to ignore.
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