Overview

• Researchers project that up to 250,000 annual deaths from air pollution in Europe could be averted by 2050 under a high greenhouse gas mitigation scenario.
• The study emphasizes reductions in PM2.5 and ozone levels, with fine particulate matter concentrations potentially dropping by 90% in pollution hotspots like southwest Germany and Paris.
• Poor air quality, the largest environmental risk factor globally, currently causes an estimated 8 million deaths annually, including 444,000 in Europe from PM2.5 alone.
• Strong climate mitigation efforts also address health inequities, with deprived regions in Europe benefiting the most from improved air quality.
• The findings, based on advanced atmospheric chemistry modeling, provide policymakers with evidence that aggressive emissions cuts yield both climate and public health benefits.