India, Sept. 7 -- South Asia bears the highest current economic burden from air pollution among world regions, equivalent to 10 per cent of regional gross domestic product (GDP), while implementing 25 integrated climate and clean air solutions could generate $21 in economic benefits for every $1 invested, according to a new UN assessment.

The assessment Hidden Assets: The Economic and Health Case for Climate and Clean Air Action by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition found that the 25 solutions could avoid damages equivalent to around 4 per cent of South Asia's GDP in 2035, rising to 14.5 per cent by 2100, the highest of the 15 regions assessed. The 21 clean air and near-term climate so...