Preventing Pollution Delivers Major Health, Economic And Social Benefits, Experts Say

Many of the impacts of pollution are invisible, making their scale difficult to measure. Yet experts warn that preventing pollution is far more cost-effective than addressing its consequences, and doing so offers benefits across health, economic growth, food security and social equality.

Pollution remains the world’s largest environmental cause of disease and premature death, linked to at least 9 million deaths every year. Harmful chemicals such as lead and endocrine disruptors contribute to cancer, developmental disorders and reproductive harm, with the economic burden from related illnesses estimated to cost more than 2% of GDP in the United States and over 1% in the European Union. Just reducing lead exposure alone could save costs equivalent to nearly 7% of global GDP, researchers estimate.

Improving access to clean water and sanitation could reduce global diarrheal cases by 60% and slow the spread of antimicrobial resistance, which could otherwise cause up to 39 million deaths between 2025 and 2050. Addressing pollution also creates economic opportunities: shifting to more circular, low-waste business models could help make the global economy 3% larger by 2050 while reducing material use by 30%. Sectors such as agriculture, textiles, electronics and transport are already beginning to transition, with circular fashion models alone projected to make up 23% of the global market by 2030. Expanding recycling, repair and reuse industries could generate 6 million new jobs and formalize work for the 20 million waste pickers who currently operate informally.

Reducing pollution also strengthens food security by improving soil and water systems. Sustainable farming practices, reduced fertilizer dependence and methane reduction strategies could cut crop losses and prevent up to US$33 billion in annual losses by 2050. Recovering nutrients from wastewater could supply 25% of global nitrogen and phosphorus needs while preventing ecosystem damage.

Finally, experts emphasize that reducing pollution is a matter of equity and justice. Nearly 92% of pollution-related deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, and marginalized groups face the highest exposure risks. Women and girls are disproportionately affected due to higher biological sensitivity and household work patterns. A World Bank study in Africa found that reducing fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) by just 20% could increase productivity by one-third and employment growth by 16%, especially benefiting low-income communities. Expanding safe wastewater reuse could also provide 10 times the world’s current desalination capacity, easing water scarcity.

Overall, experts argue that the benefits of acting on pollution far outweigh the costs, and that doing so offers a direct path toward healthier societies, resilient economies and a fairer future.