Cause of Death: Air Pollution

Cause of Death: Air Pollution

Author: Climate One from The Commonwealth Club August 15, 2025 Duration: 56:08
In 2013, 9-year-old Ella Roberta died from a severe asthma attack. She became the first person in the United Kingdom (and possibly the world) to have “air pollution” listed as the cause of death on her death certificate. Her mother, Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, founded the Ella Roberta Foundation and has become a global voice for clean air. Globally, the World Health Organization says that air pollution is associated with 6 to 7 million premature deaths every year. Addressing the cause of these deaths would also go a long way to addressing climate disruption. And since talking about climate has become so politically fraught, should we reframe the conversation to focus on taking care of our air? Guests: Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, Founder, Ella Roberta Foundation Sheila Watson, Deputy Director, FIA Foundation Susan Joy Hassol, Director, Climate Communication  Highlights: (00:00) Intro (03:00) Rosamund shares details of Ella’s young life and her early asthma attacks (08:00) Ella becomes first person to have “air pollution” listed as cause of death (13:00) Rosamund’s work sharing Ella’s story and raising awareness about air pollution (20:30) How poisonous transportation emissions are and policy tools to reduce them (26:00) Economic development does not need to sit contrary to healthy air  (27:00) Dieselgate and the work of the True Real Urban Emissions initiative  (31:00) Extreme heat can make air pollution more deadly (37:00) Why we shouldn’t use the term "climate change”  (43:00) Finding ways to connect with people on climate based on their priorities (49:00) How to convey the seriousness of climate threats while also empowering people to feel that they can make a difference (52:30) Climate One More Thing For show notes and related links, visit https://www.climateone.org/watch-and-listen/podcasts Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today. Ad sales by Multitude. Contact them for ad inquiries at multitude.productions/ads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The conversation about our changing planet is often reduced to headlines and political noise, but Climate One moves beyond that. Hosted by Greg Dalton, Ariana Brocious and Kousha Navidar, this podcast from The Commonwealth Club creates a space for the full, complex dialogue we need. Each episode features candid discussions with scientists, policymakers, activists, and thinkers who are on the front lines. The focus is on drawing connections-between personal action and economic systems, between daunting scientific reports and tangible community solutions. You’ll hear analysis that doesn’t shy away from the severity of our situation while actively exploring pathways for genuine progress, from technology and finance to culture and justice. This isn't about alarmism or easy answers; it's about equipping listeners with a deeper understanding of the intertwined challenges and opportunities. Tuning into this podcast means joining a crucial exploration of how we adapt, mitigate, and fundamentally rethink our relationship with the natural world. The dialogue here is built on the idea that confronting the climate emergency honestly, in all its facets, is the first necessary step toward shaping a livable future.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Climate One
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