smog deaths soar: About 21,000 Canadians, mostly of 65 years and above, will die this year due to short and long-term exposure to air pollution, says the Canadian Medical Association (CMA). Following a study of health costs of poor air quality, CMA estimates that smog-related illnesses like asthma and cardio-vascular diseases are set to soar to 700,000 over the next two decades. It will cost the economy over C $8 billion (US $7.5 billion) in 2008 and C $250 billion by 2031.
emissions outsourced: 1.7 billion tonnes or 33 per cent of China's GHG emissions are a direct result of activities related to export goods, says a report by the Carnegie Mellon University, the US. Most companies ignore such emissions as they are outside their control and responsibility. China exports about 18 per cent of products to the US. So the US is indirectly responsible for 6 per cent of its emissions (300 million tonnes of CO2). In the absence of an international agreement, these emissions will continue to grow, says the report.
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