If you’re feeling dizzy or out of breath, it might be more than the usual near-end to negotiations delirium – we’re almost two weeks breathing air that’s way over the WHO air pollution recommendations. PM2.5 in Dubai has been over 40 every day since Dec 2nd, and has been over 60 the least three days – which is eight times the WHO’s maximum safe level. While there are grave health risks of long term exposure to air pollution, including stroke, heart disease and some cancers, even short term exposure to elevated PM2.5 has health risks, including asthma exacerbation, breathing challenges, and increased risk of respiratory infection – anyone get hit with that nasty COP cold going around?
Have you noticed the gas flaring on the metro en route to the COP28 venue, or been stuck in evening traffic gridlock? Air pollution in Dubai is in large part due to vehicle emissions and fossil fuel energy production, we’re all getting a taste of the results of inaction on fossil fuel phase out – it is tangy, metallic and not at all pleasant.
We’re hoping that this two week exposure to this grating reality of so many, will motivate negotiators to keep fossil fuel phase out language in the GST text. Hiding behind abatement technology as an excuse for continued fossil fuel use and expansion doesn’t only propel the climate crisis, but won’t prevent the 5.1 million deaths caused by fossil fuel-driven PM air pollution annually. Dubai isn’t alone in its air quality challenges – 99% of the world’s population breathes air that exceeds WHO quality limits, and burning fossil fuels causes the majority of the world’s air pollution. Keeping fossil fuel phase out in the GST would be a chance to get everyone breathing a little easier, both literally and figuratively.