Rethinking Aid Allocation: Analysis of Official Development Spending on Modern Pollution Reduction.

Stephanie Swinehart,Rachael Kupka,Richard Fuller,Marc N Conte

doi:10.5334/aogh.2633

Stephanie Swinehart, Rachael Kupka + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5334/aogh.2633

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Abstract

Background:Modern pollution – pollution attributable to industrialization and urbanization – is responsible for nearly 6 million deaths per year, more than all the deaths from HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis combined; yet it receives comparatively little attention in the international development agenda [1].Objective/Methods:This study attempts to highlight the funding disparity between select key threats to global health by quantifying the levels of international official development aid (ODA) allocated to reducing pollution’s negative impact on human health using a new metric – dollars spent per death caused by health threat.Findings:Using only reported ODA spending for 2016, we calculate an average investment of $14/death for modern pollution, compared with $1,250/death for malaria, $190/death for tuberculosis, and $165/death for HIV/AIDS.Conclusions:Although there are substantive limitations to this analysis, results are sufficient to galvanize action to better monitor and track investments in modern pollution reduction. Donor countries have failed to respond to this urgent public health crisis. Given the severity of its public health burden, there is a critical need for funding to be allocated specifically to pollution reduction.

Highlights

Recognition of the impacts of exposure to pollution is growing
The Lancet Commission notes that while deaths associated with traditional pollution are falling, deaths associated with modern pollution are rising at unprecedented levels [1]
official development aid (ODA) investment to reduce negative human health impacts from exposure to modern pollutants and toxicity is lower than funding for other health concerns that have smaller impacts on mortality

Summary

Introduction

Recognition of the impacts of exposure to pollution is growing. In 2017, the Lancet Commission on Pollution and Health called pollution “the largest environmental cause of disease and death in the world,” killing 9 million prematurely in 2015 [1]. The Lancet Commission estimates that GDP losses from pollution in low- to middle- income countries could be up to 2% per year and account for up to 7% of annual health spending [1]. Modern pollution – pollution attributable to industrialization and urbanization – is responsible for nearly 6 million deaths per year, more than all the deaths from HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis combined; yet it receives comparatively little attention in the international development agenda [1]. Objective/Methods: This study attempts to highlight the funding disparity between select key threats to global health by quantifying the levels of international official development aid (ODA) allocated to reducing pollution’s negative impact on human health using a new metric – dollars spent per death caused by health threat.

Objectives

Results

Conclusion