United Nations: Pollution Deadlier than COVID-19
2022-02-18
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1A United Nations report warns that pollution is leading to more early deaths around the world than the COVID-19 pandemic.
2A U.N. environmental report says:
3"Pollution and toxic substances cause at least 9 million premature deaths, double the number of deaths inflicted by the COVID-19 pandemic during its first 18 months."
4The U.N. blames pollution released by nations and by companies.
5The report called for "immediate and ambitious action" to ban some toxic chemicals.
6Results from the report will be presented to the U.N. Human Rights Council when it meets next month.
7U.N. Special Rapporteur on human rights David Boyd released the report Tuesday.
8He said that the ways nations are dealing with "the risks posed by pollution and toxic substances are clearly failing, resulting in widespread violations of the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment."
9Last October, the U.N. Human Rights Council voted to recognize the right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment as a basic human right.
10The resolution, which has no legal force, adds to the list of rights that the U.N. considers basic human rights.
11The report said pollution from pesticides, plastics and electronic waste is causing widespread human rights violations.
12Pesticides are chemicals used to kill insects that damage plants or crops.
13The report also said pollution causes at least 9 million people around the world to die early, or prematurely, each year.
14The coronavirus is blamed for about 5.9 million deaths.
15The report urges a ban on polyfluoroalkyl, a manufactured substance used in household products such as cookware.
16The substance has been linked to cancer.
17It is considered a "forever chemical" because it does not break down easily in the environment.
18The report also calls for the clean-up of polluted places.
19In extreme cases, it urges moving affected communities.
20These include poor and indigenous groups living in what the report calls "sacrifice zones".
21That term was first used to describe nuclear test areas where people could no longer live.
22Its meaning was expanded in the report to include any highly polluted place or a place where people can no longer live because of climate change.
23U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet has called environmental threats the biggest global rights problem.
24Environmental activists are increasingly using human rights laws in climate and environmental cases.
25I'm Mario Ritter Jr.
1A United Nations report warns that pollution is leading to more early deaths around the world than the COVID-19 pandemic. 2A U.N. environmental report says: "Pollution and toxic substances cause at least 9 million premature deaths, double the number of deaths inflicted by the COVID-19 pandemic during its first 18 months." 3The U.N. blames pollution released by nations and by companies. The report called for "immediate and ambitious action" to ban some toxic chemicals. 4Results from the report will be presented to the U.N. Human Rights Council when it meets next month. 5U.N. Special Rapporteur on human rights David Boyd released the report Tuesday. He said that the ways nations are dealing with "the risks posed by pollution and toxic substances are clearly failing, resulting in widespread violations of the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment." 6Last October, the U.N. Human Rights Council voted to recognize the right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment as a basic human right. The resolution, which has no legal force, adds to the list of rights that the U.N. considers basic human rights. 7The report said pollution from pesticides, plastics and electronic waste is causing widespread human rights violations. Pesticides are chemicals used to kill insects that damage plants or crops. 8The report also said pollution causes at least 9 million people around the world to die early, or prematurely, each year. The coronavirus is blamed for about 5.9 million deaths. 9The report urges a ban on polyfluoroalkyl, a manufactured substance used in household products such as cookware. The substance has been linked to cancer. It is considered a "forever chemical" because it does not break down easily in the environment. 10The report also calls for the clean-up of polluted places. In extreme cases, it urges moving affected communities. These include poor and indigenous groups living in what the report calls "sacrifice zones". 11That term was first used to describe nuclear test areas where people could no longer live. Its meaning was expanded in the report to include any highly polluted place or a place where people can no longer live because of climate change. 12U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet has called environmental threats the biggest global rights problem. Environmental activists are increasingly using human rights laws in climate and environmental cases. 13I'm Mario Ritter Jr. 14Emma Farge reported this story for Reuters. Mario Ritter Jr. adapted it for VOA Learning English. 15________________________________________________________________ 16Words in This Story 17toxic -adj. containing poisonous substances 18inflict -v. to cause someone to be affected by something (usually bad or harmful) 19ambitious -adj. having a desire to have power or influence 20pose -v. to be or create; to present something 21sustainable -adj. able to be used without being completely used up or destroyed 22indigenous -adj. produced, living or existing in a certain place or environment 23global -adj. involving the entire world 24We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.