Leaded Petrol Eradicated Globally: UNEP | 31 Aug 2021

Why in News

Recently, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) announced that the use of leaded petrol has been eradicated from the globe.

Petrol\Gasoline

  • Gasoline, which is also called gas or petrol, is a mixture of volatile, flammable liquid hydrocarbons derived from petroleum and used as fuel for internal-combustion engines. It is also used as a solvent for oils and fats.
  • Originally a by-product of the petroleum industry (kerosene being the principal product), gasoline became the preferred automobile fuel because of its high energy of combustion and capacity to mix readily with air in a carburetor.

Leaded vs Unleaded Petrol

  • The main difference between leaded and unleaded fuel is the additive tetraethyl lead.
    • The combustion of leaded petrol causes the lead to be released into the air.
    • Lead is a heavy pollutant that does damage not only to the environment but also to the people who are exposed to it.

Key Points

  • About:
    • It is a milestone that will prevent more than 1.2 million premature deaths and save world economies over USD 2.4 trillion annually. It is a huge milestone for global health and environment.
    • UNEP warned that fossil fuel use in general must still be drastically reduced to stave off the frightening effects of climate change.
  • Era of Leaded Petrol:
    • Until the 1970s, almost all the gasoline sold across the globe contained lead.
    • When UNEP launched its campaign named Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles (PCFV) against leaded petrol in 2002, many major economic powers had already stopped using the fuel, including the United States, China and India. But the situation in lower-income nations remained dire.
      • More than 100 countries around the world were still using leaded petrol, despite studies linking it to premature deaths, poor health and soil and air pollution. Concerns were first raised as early as 1924.
      • In July 2021, it was eradicated from Algeria - the last country using leaded petrol.
  • Need of Eradication:
    • Pollution:
      • The transport sector is responsible for nearly a quarter of energy-related global greenhouse gas emissions and is set to grow to one third by 2050.
      • Adding that 1.2 billion new vehicles would hit the streets in the coming decades.
      • It includes millions of poor-quality used vehicles exported from Europe, the United States and Japan, to mid- and low-income countries.
    • Global Warming:
    • Health:
      • Leaded petrol causes heart disease, stroke and cancer. It also affects the development of the human brain, especially harming children.
  • Significance:
    • The end of leaded petrol is expected to support the realization of multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), including good health and well-being (SDG3), clean water (SDG6), clean energy (SDG7), sustainable cities (SDG11), climate action (SDG13) and life on land (SDG15).
    • It also offers an opportunity for restoring ecosystems, especially in urban environments, which have been particularly degraded by this toxic pollutant.

United Nations Environment Programme

Source: TH