Enhancing the world bank’s approach to air quality management

In many developing countries, environmental pollution continues to pose serious risks to human health and productivity, making it difficult to achieve economic growth and break out of poverty. Furthermore, the disease and death from environmental degradation results in a significant economic burden that is often disproportionately carried by poor people. Effectively addressing environmental health challenges therefore can be a crucial part of a country’s eff orts to reduce poverty and increase shared prosperity.
This report specifically deals with air pollution, which according to the World Health Organization (WHO) was the single largest environmental health risk globally in 2012 (WHO 2014a).1 Air pollution from outdoor and household sources jointly accounted for more than 7 million deaths (3.7 million from ambient air pollution and 4.3 million from household air pollution).p Developing countries are the most affected by the deleterious health effects of air pollution, and they bear a significant economic burden
associated with loss of life, illness, and productivity losses. With economic development, air pollution represents a growing problem, particularly in developing countries, with ambient air pollution mostly affecting cities and urban areas there. Nonetheless, countries continue to face problems with even the most basic aspects of ensuring adequate air quality management.
For decades the World Bank has been supporting developing countries in addressing issues related to pollution management and environmental health. The current knowledge on the enormous health burden associated with air pollution underscores the need for a comprehensive approach by the Bank to help countries reduce ambient air pollution.

source:
https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/31063e51-3fc7-5a43-9f5c-a07888226b02