The planet's inhabitants may now opt for zero-emission cities as nine out of ten people presently breathe polluted air which kills around 7 million every year
In recent times, Extinction Rebellion and other protests have rocked London and some other cities around the world. These protests were fuelled by the realisation that the world is getting hotter which means that we breathe air that is dangerously contaminated.
The demonstrations are meant to force political leaders to do something about the situation.
The leaders are in a dilemma as countries struggle to balance rapid industrialisation and economic progress with climate change and public health concerns.
Twenty-two of the world’s worst cities for air pollution are in India, with a further five in China.
The world’s leading climate scientists have predicted a bleak future should the present trend continue. They say there are only a few years left for global temperature increases to be kept to a maximum of 1.5C. They have asserted that doing otherwise could lead to a significant increase in the rise of floods, drought, extreme heat and poverty for hundreds of millions of people around the globe.
Surprisingly, people always point the finger at – government, town planners, vehicle manufactures or oil companies. They conveniently forget that they have a part to play.
Individuals are always to remember that they can make a difference. Whether by walking, cycling or taking the bus where possible, or switching off the idling engine at traffic lights.
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