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Producing and burning fossil fuels creates air pollution that harms our health and generates toxic emissions that drive climate change.
From the electricity that lights our homes to the cars we drive to work, modern life was built on fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas. But burning them creates climate change and releases pollutants that lead to early death, heart attacks, respiratory disorders, stroke, asthma, and absenteeism at school and work. It has also been linked to autism spectrum disorder and Alzheimer’s disease.
Research from Harvard University, in collaboration with the University of Birmingham, the University of Leicester and University College London, found that more than 8 million people died in 2018 from fossil fuel pollution, significantly higher than previous research suggested—meaning that air pollution from burning fossil fuels like coal and diesel was responsible for about 1 in 5 deaths worldwide.
Each year, our team contributes to the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change to track the impacts of climate change on human health across 44 indicators around the world. Our research analyzes the health impacts of burning fossil fuels and shows how much we have to gain by ending our reliance on them. Recent research from our Center:
- Identified at least 21 different hazardous air pollutants, as defined by the U.S. EPA, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and hexane, in consumer-grade natural gas supplied to Massachusetts.
- Created a new inventory of air pollution impacts from stationary sources over the past decade that shows the negative impacts of burning natural gas and biomass have surpassed coal generation in many states, which is a trend that may continue.
- Conducted the first study to determine that Pennsylvania’s statewide setback regulations for fracking do not prevent setback incidents, and identified the potential risks and exposures for people living near fracking or underground natural gas wells.
- Showed that more people live closer to underground gas storage wells than previously thought. An estimated 20,000 homes and 53,000 people in predominantly suburban areas of PA, OH, WV, MI, NY, and CA live within a city block of active underground natural gas storage wells.
- Developed the science-based case for why it is “appropriate and necessary” for EPA to regulate mercury emissions from the power sector; and why the health benefits of regulation and remaining risks from mercury pollution in the U.S. should be assessed.
Estimating Public Health Impacts from Individual Power Plants
A tool to help policy-makers design policies and interventions.
Health Co-Benefits of Carbon Standards for Existing Power Plants
Analyzing the clean air and health benefits of power plant carbon standards in the U.S.
Costs and Health Co-Benefits for a U.S. Power Plant Carbon Standard
Reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from power plants can have important “co-benefits” for public health by reducing emissions of air pollutants.
What does air pollution have to do with Covid-19?
In the COVID-19 crisis, polluted air only increases the risk of death.
Air pollution's insidious link to the pandemic
Air pollution damages health, hurts the economy, and raises the risk of dying from COVID-19.
Air Pollution Worsens Covid-19
Our Director Dr. Aaron Bernstein discusses the lifesaving health benefits of climate solutions that also clean up polluted air.
Higher coronavirus mortality rates for Black Americans and people exposed to air pollution
Black Americans and people exposed to air pollution are experiencing disproportionate mortality rates for COVID-19.
New Indiana policy may lax pollution enforcement, could put public at risk
Experts say this change in air quality regulations will do more harm than good.
The link between fossil fuel pollution and coronavirus
Dr. Aaron Bernstein on how pollution makes us more vulnerable to coronavirus and other potential outbreaks.
Q&A: A Harvard expert on environment and health discusses possible ties between COVID and climate
Our Director Dr. Aaron Bernstein sits down to discuss the connections between environmental changes and COVID-19.
The coronavirus is deadly enough. But some experts suspect bad air makes it worse.
Poor air quality damages lungs, possibly worsening symptoms of COVID-19.
Air pollution likely to increase coronavirus death rate, warn experts
Long-term lung damage from air pollution may increase the mortality rate of COVID-19.
Climate experts say pollution could make coronavirus worse
People who are exposed to more air pollution are likely to fare worse if infected with covid than those who are breathing cleaner air.
