Prevention of pollution from land-based sources is key. Eliminating coal combustion and banning all uses of mercury will reduce mercury pollution. Bans on single-use plastic and better management of plastic waste reduce plastic pollution. Bans on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have reduced pol- lution by PCBs and DDT. Control of industrial discharges, treatment of sewage, and reduced applica- tions of fertilizers have mitigated coastal pollution and are reducing frequency of HABs. National, regional and international marine pollution control programs that are adequately funded and backed by strong enforcement have been shown to be e ective. Robust monitoring is essential to track progress.

Further interventions that hold great promise include wide-scale transition to renewable fuels; transi- tion to a circular economy that creates little waste and focuses on equity rather than on endless growth; embracing the principles of green chemistry; and building scienti c capacity in all countries.
Designation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) will safeguard critical ecosystems, protect vulnerable sh stocks, and enhance human health and well-being. Creation of MPAs is an important manifestation of national and international commitment to protecting the health of the seas.

PS: Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP) is a naturally occurring marine biotoxin that is produced by some species of microscopic algae. Shellfish eat these algae and can retain the toxin. People can become ill from eating shellfish contaminated with Paralytic Shellfish Poison. This biotoxin affects the nervous system and paralyzes muscles, thus the term "paralytic" shellfish poison. High levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poison can cause severe illness and death https://perma.cc/RKR5-GEYG

Driven by the dramatic increase in the power generation demand, young power units (<12 yr) continuously played essential roles in the contributions of global CO2 emissions (e.g., accounting for 39.9% of the total in 2019 compared with 38.5% of the total in 1990). However, the regional contributions in CO2 emissions from young power units have significantly changed over time.

Specially, China contributed the largest share (55.4%) of emissions from all young coal power units in 2019, followed by India (24.5%). Moreover, the evolution of emissions from young power units reflected regional disparities in fuel types owing to the differences in resource endowments.

CO2 emissions increased from 7.5 Gt in 1990 to 13.9 Gt in 2019 at a 2.2% growth rate per year, mainly dominated by the development of coal-fired power capacity in developing countries. In the most of developed regions, such as the United States and Europe, CO2 emissions from the power sector peaked before 2005.

Economies with higher CO2 emission intensities from power plants should enhance the energy efficiencies of fossil fuel-fired power plants by using more advanced electricity technologies and accelerate the transitions of emission-free renewable energy (e.g., solar and wind) in the context of carbon neutrality worldwide, aiming to develop low-carbon power systems in the future for climate change mitigation.

Cold-related deaths have been noted for centuries.

The results show that the percentage increases in all-cause and RD mortality with fall in temperature were greater, and that protective measures against a given degree of cold were fewer, in regions with mild winters.

Although we know that the middle-aged and elderly should wear protective clothing and keep active in cold weather outdoors, our surveys show that in relatively warm countries they often fail to do so.

As recently described by Fowler et al.,22 the EWD index (EWDi) is calculated by comparing the number of deaths that occur in:
† the 4 months of winter (these are pre-designated as December–March in the Northern hemisphere);
† the four autumn months preceding that winter (August– November)
† the four spring months following on from that winter (April – July)

Several known effects of cold on the body could account for cold-related deaths. Arterial thrombosis is promoted by the haemoconcentration3,4 induced by cold, and rapid coronary deaths could result from rupture of atheromatous plaques during hypertension and cold- induced coronary spasm.5–8,22

Suppression of immune responses by stress hormones during cold exposure is likely to reduce resistance to respiratory infection, as will direct effects of cold on the respiratory tract;23,24 these direct effects could also cause bronchoconstriction.25

Acute-phase reactions to such respiratory infection13,14 can then be expected to increase further the risk of arterial thrombosis. The results do not rule out other factors such as previous temperature experience, or low vitamin C intake in winter.26,27

However, the associations shown in the results between mortality and protection against cold stress strongly suggest that excess winter mortality could be reduced substantially by improved protection from cold—particularly in countries with warm winters where the need for cold-avoidance was less obvious, and measures taken against it less effective.

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