The challenge
Lead from petrol harmed children's brain development and caused heart disease and early deaths.
The case
When the UN Environment Programme launched the Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles in 2002, rich countries, China and India had already banned leaded petrol, but it was still sold in dozens of mostly low- and middle-income countries. The partnership of governments, industry and civil society gave technical help, ran awareness campaigns and supported refinery changes. Country by country, leaded fuel was banned. In July 2021, Algeria, the last country selling it, ran out of stock, and UNEP declared its use over worldwide. UNEP estimates that ending leaded petrol prevents more than 1.2 million premature deaths a year and saves about $2.45 trillion, based on a 2010 study.
Why it worked
A clear target, cheap substitutes and patient country-by-country technical support can finish a global health fix that early movers began; the benefit figures are modelled estimates.
Sources
- UNEP (2021). Era of leaded petrol over, eliminating a major threat to human and planetary health.
- UNEP. Inside the 20-year campaign to rid the world of leaded fuel.
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