Southeast Asian deaths linked to air pollution could rise by up to 10% by 2050, costing the region nearly $600 billion, even as overall pollution levels decrease, according to a new study published in the Environment International journal on Oct. 8.

The study, led by Steve Yim, head of the Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Health at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, estimates the economic cost of pollution-linked deaths under different emissions scenarios: low, medium and high.

The study estimates that the region will take a $447 billion hit from air pollution-related deaths under the low emission scenario, and $591 billion under the high emission scenario.

“These figures represent the total social value of lost lives, not direct healthcare costs. They capture

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