The WWF charity claim that stronger climate policies will have significant health benefits in the long term. If the European Union immediately opts for stronger policies, savings of up to €25 billion could be achieved every year across Europe.
The WWF report shows increased health benefits would be brought about through increasing the 2020 target for greenhouse gas emission from 20 to 30%. The report shows that raising the target would mean a reduction in hospital admissions, and would cut cases of chronic bronchitis, which would result in two million fewer work days lost per year.
The reports assessment estimated that currently 369,000 people die prematurely due to air pollution every year, with the medication associated with air pollution amounting to nearly 9% of the EU Gross Domestic Product.
Senior Advisor to WWF, Delia Villagrasa, said –
‘Until now the discussion on climate change has been all about costs to industry and the economy, while costs of climate pollution to the society have largely been neglected. It is essential to see that measures to promote cleaner sources of energy and reduce fossil fuel consumption will not only contribute to control climate change but will also cut air pollution and improve quality of life for European citizens.’
