Others generate fewer harmful emissions

Every company must eliminate its own harmful emissions, to live up to the Break-Even Goals. Here we consider actions which go beyond this.

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About this Positive Pursuit

Human actions have led to the release of a range of chemicals and particles. Many of these are known to be toxic to people and organisms, either immediately or in the long term.

The harmful emissions of others are reduced when:

An activity is modified to deliver the same results with fewer harmful emissions; or
An activity is substituted by another which leads to no harmful emissions.

This Positive Pursuit encompasses any action which achieves such an outcome.

Why it’s needed

Air pollution is a major risk to public health, and industrial processes are a major contributor.
Airborne contaminants were the leading cause of death by pollution in 2015, claiming 6.5 million lives from a mixture of heart disease, strokes, and respiratory ailments.
Furthermore, the cost of pollution to the global economy is staggering.
Air pollution alone costs the global economy more than $5 trillion annually in healthcare costs, with the most devastating damage occurring in the developing world.

SDGs this will contribute to

3. Good health and well-being
Health is a fundamental human right and a key indicator of sustainable development. In recent years notable progress has been made, but significant challenges remain.
Learn more about SDG 3
6. Clean water and sanitation
Access to clean freshwater is a fundamental human right, yet millions of people today do not have access to clean water for drinking, cooking and sanitation.
Learn more about SDG 6
11. Sustainable cities and communities
Half of humanity now lives in cities, and the number is increasing. For cities to thrive we must address the pressures that rapid urbanization is placing on freshwater, infrastructure, air quality and people’s health.
Learn more about SDG 11
12. Responsible consumption and production
Sustainable consumption and production aims to do more and better with less, increasing net welfare gains from economic activities that reduce resource use, degradation and pollution.
Learn more about SDG 12
14. Life below water
The world’s oceans – their temperature, chemistry, currents and life – drive natural processes that make the Earth habitable for humankind. Careful management of this global resource is critical to our future.
Learn more about SDG 14
15. Life on land
Land degradation, deforestation and desertification - caused by human activities and climate change - pose big challenges to sustainable development and undermine the livelihoods of millions of people.
Learn more about SDG 15