Dirty fuels a health crisis time bomb
Air pollution from burning fossil fuels is killing too many people. Asia and sub-Saharan Africa will suffer the most
Air pollution kills 6.5m people every year and is more deadly than HIV, AIDS, tuberculosis and road injuries combined, according to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA). Polluting energy production and inefficient or unregulated use of energy are the biggest culprits and the problem is only going to get worse. Fuel combustion will increase steadily between now and 2040 – to meet an anticipated rise in global energy demand of a third. This will cause deaths from outdoor air pollution to rise from around 3m a year now to 4.5m by 2040. Burning coal alone is responsible for around 60% of global combustion-related sulphur dioxide (SOx) emissions while diesel generates more than half
Also in this section
9 January 2026
A shift in perspective is needed on the carbon challenge, the success of which will determine the speed and extent of emissions cuts and how industries adapt to the new environment
2 January 2026
This year may be a defining one for carbon capture, utilisation and storage in the US, despite the institutional uncertainty
23 December 2025
Legislative reform in Germany sets the stage for commercial carbon capture and transport at a national level, while the UK has already seen financial close on major CCS clusters
15 December 2025
Net zero is not the problem for the UK’s power system. The real issue is with an outdated market design in desperate need of modernisation
