Sustainability challenge and related SDGs:
Air pollution is the world’s largest environmental health risk, particularly for all humans living in urban environments. The air we breathe – approximately 15,000 litres per day – is a source of life but at the same time death as it contains pollutants from fossil fuels mainly generated from traffic, industries, agriculture or combustion plants. Polluted air contains gases, dusts, fumes, chemicals, particulates or odour in harmful amounts.
Entering our lungs, they can cause various respiratory diseases such as asthma or bronchitis. Furthermore, they are involved in the development of cardiovascular diseases and lead to a shortening of life expectancy. Of all global death risks, air pollution is the fourth-largest threat to human health, ranking just behind high blood pressure, dietary risks and smoking. As global urbanization increases, there is an even greater need for solutions that provide us healthy air to achieve SDG 3 “Good Health and Wellbeing”.
Possible solutions and their contribution to achieving the SDGs
Air
pollution is a product of the present industrial economy era. While it cannot be completely removed, there are many ways to reduce or avoid air pollution. #CleanAir identifies companies that provide such technologies.
While some companies provide technologies to filter particles from the air, including automotive exhaust filters, others are improving their manufacturing processes to avoid pollution in the production process. Protecting human health through improved air quality is one of the themes in target 3.9: “By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.”
Primarily related SDG Targets: 3.9
Investment
Rationale and Growth Potential
#CleanAir is one of the most important requirements for human health. More than half of the world's population now live in urban areas. The number is expected to increase to 7 billion by 2050. Air pollution remains one of the major causes of respiratory diseases for millions of people in urban areas across the world. People will continue to demand #CleanAir. Therefore, the global #CleanAir market is expected to grow further in the coming years.
Investing in innovative companies that provide technical solutions can help address the most pressing air pollution challenges. Fresh air is vital. Therefore #CleanAir solutions will continue to be growing markets worth investing in.
