Pollution leading cause of premature deaths, says UN

UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner (centre), Clever Mafuta (author of the Africa Report) and UNEP’s Chief Scientist Jacqueline McGlade during the launch of the ‘Healthy Environment, Healthy People’ report in Nairobi. According to a new United Nations report, environmental impacts are responsible for the deaths of more than one quarter of all children under the age of five. (PHOTO: PROTUS ONYANGO/ STANDARD)

Environmental degradation and pollution are estimated to cause up to 234 times as many premature deaths as those caused by conflicts annually.

According to a new United Nations report, environmental impacts are responsible for the deaths of more than one quarter of all children under the age of five.