The UN Environment Program (UNEP), Monday announced that the use of leaded petrol was eliminated from the world. This milestone will prevent over 1.2 million premature deaths, and save more than US$2.4 trillion annually.
Nearly 100 years after doctors issued the first warnings about the toxic effects leaded petrol caused by its use, Algeria was the last country to run out of fuel. UNEP called the news a historic victory in the fight for cleaner, healthier air.
Inger Andersen (executive director of UNEP), said that "The successful enforcement on the ban on lead petrol is a significant milestone for global health, and our environment."
Even though studies have linked it to premature deaths and poor health, as well as soil and air pollution, over 100 countries still used leaded petrol two decades ago.
Concerns were raised in 1924 when dozens of workers were admitted to hospital and five were declared dead following convulsions at the refinery owned by Standard Oil. This facility was nicknamed "looney gas building" by staff.
However, almost all gasoline sold around the world before the 1970s contained lead.
Many major economic powers, including India, China and the United States, had stopped using fuel when UNEP launched their campaign in 2002. However, the situation in low-income countries remained grave.
"End of an era toxic"
After North Korea, Myanmar and Afghanistan had stopped selling leaded petrol in 2016, only a few countries still operated service stations that provided the fuel. Algeria followed Iraq and Yemen in ending its dependence on the pollutant.
UNEP stated in a statement, "preventing more than 1.2million premature deaths per annum, increase IQ points within children, save US$2.44 trillion (2.07 Trillion euros), for the global economy and decrease crime rates".
According to the agency, the dollar figure was derived from a study by scientists at California State University Northridge in 2010.
It was mainly due to the positive effects of better health on the economy and lower medical costs. Criminal activity has fallen. Previously, exposure to leaded gasoline was linked to higher rates of crime.
UNEP warned that fossil fuel consumption must be significantly reduced in order to avert the devastating effects of climate change.
Greenpeace described the news as "a celebration for the end of one harmful era".
"It clearly proves that if one of the most polluting fuels can be eliminated, then we can eliminate all fossil fuels," stated Thandile Chinyavanhu from Greenpeace Africa, climate and energy campaigner.
She said that "Africa's governments should not make excuses for the fossil fuel sector."
Vehicle sales worldwide are expected to rise exponentially, especially in emerging markets.
UNEP stated that the transport sector was responsible for almost a quarter of global energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. It is expected to increase to one third by 2050. UNEP also said that 1.2 million new vehicles will be on the roads in the next decade.
This includes millions of low-quality vehicles that were exported from the United States, Europe and Japan to low- and mid-income countries.
The global body stated that "this contributes to planet heating and air pollution traffic and (is bound to cause) accidents."
An explosive report from the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, (IPCC), was released earlier this month. It warned that Earth's average temperature will rise 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) by 2030, compared to preindustrial times.
The rise of fossil fuels has been alarming ten years earlier than originally predicted.
Agence France-Presse
