How Climate Change is Deteriorating Air Quality in Brazil and Costing the Nation $1 Billion Every Year

In September 2024, São Paulo was in the news for all the wrong reasons. The city was ranked as the most polluted in the world for five days straight, according to IQ Air. This alarming status was mainly due to rural fires in the state, which filled the skies with thick smoke. Across Brazil, communities watched as the sky turned eerily red, a striking visual from a staggering 156,000 fires recorded nationwide. Although the summer rains brought some relief, the air quality问题 isn’t solved and still raises significant concerns.

Experts warn that improving air quality should be a priority for both the government and businesses. Poor air quality is not just a nuisance; it’s a serious health risk that can hurt productivity. According to Paulo Saldiva, a pathologist from the University of São Paulo, Brazil may lose over $1 billion each year due to abnormal temperatures alone, and if we include pollution, that figure could jump to $3 billion. These losses highlight how much air quality can affect our lives.

The World Health Organization (WHO) puts air pollution responsible for about 7 million premature deaths globally each year, with Brazil accounting for more than 50,000 of those. Health issues linked to air pollution include respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular diseases, and lung cancer. Moreover, children are particularly vulnerable, as poor air quality can hinder their lung development. The increasing health costs tied to this issue, along with climate change impacts, create a pressing need for action.

Henrique Cury, the CEO of EcoQuest, which focuses on indoor air quality solutions, points out that many business leaders still underestimate the benefits of investing in air quality. He notes that healthier workplaces lead to fewer sick days and higher employee productivity. Awareness has grown significantly since the pandemic, especially following disasters that brought air quality issues to the forefront.

According to Cury, there has been some movement toward better air quality standards in Brazil, including the passing of a law aimed at establishing national air quality guidelines. This law requires companies to monitor air quality regularly, a stark contrast to the outdated regulations from the late 1990s that few companies followed.

A study co-authored by Saldiva shows that forest fires have already caused $81 billion in damages from 2000 to 2016, underscoring the economic impact of air quality issues. Despite some progress, Saldiva emphasizes the need for a consistent national policy to improve air quality, framing it as an essential matter of citizenship and fundamental rights.

David Tsai from the Institute for Energy and the Environment highlights another challenge: Brazil lacks sufficient monitoring stations to track air pollution effectively. With only 245 stations in place, the nation needs at least 138 more, according to European standards. Major cities are particularly underserved, lacking basic monitoring stations and putting public health at risk.

Effective air quality management is essential for creating a national air quality index. This could help identify sources of pollution and assess whether public policies are working. Tsai believes that investing in more monitoring stations is both necessary and affordable. The estimated cost is between R$16 million and R$49 million, which pales in comparison to the billions spent on health care due to pollution-related illnesses.

Furthermore, a proposal in Congress aims to enshrine the right to clean air in Brazil’s Federal Constitution. Senator Mara Gabrilli states that ensuring access to good air is vital for health and well-being, particularly highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic, which revealed the dangers of poorly ventilated spaces.

While there’s concern about whether this proposal will lead to real change, Gabrilli remains hopeful. She points to successful strategies in other countries, like Japan and Germany, where innovative solutions have made substantial improvements in air quality. However, she insists that Brazil must first focus on monitoring air quality effectively to drive transparency and accountability.

The Ministry of Health has yet to respond in detail but has historically worked with environmental sectors to address air quality issues. As our understanding of air quality’s impact on health grows, so does the call for action to improve the air we breathe.

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