Harmful emissions are removed from the environment

Some harmful substances – such as scarce metals – may be physically removed from the environment. Others may not be easily removed, but their disruptive effects may be neutralized. Here we consider actions which contribute to this.

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About this Positive Pursuit

Some harmful substances may be physically removed from the environment (e.g. scarce metals). Others may not be easily removed, but their disruptive effects may be neutralized (e.g. using a benign chemical to disperse spilled oil and render it harmless).

Harmful emissions are removed from the environment or neutralized when:

Substances which degrade air quality, water quality, or soil health are removed or neutralized; or
Substances which can otherwise disrupt the health of people, organisms and ecosystems are removed or neutralized.

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
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