A substantial portion of air pollution stems from consumption that takes place far from the site of impact. The burden of these emissions is also likely to fall disproportionately on poor, disadvantaged communities living near industrial sites.

According to the World Economic Forum, a fifth of the premature deaths attributed to particulate matter in China are associated with the production of goods exported to the rest of the world – and more than half of all polluting emissions are tied to goods consumed outside the provinces bearing the impact of related pollution. This experience is common to regions in industrialised economies.