Friedland set the stage for his platinum prediction by explaining that “the most important fundamental economic and social transformation” currently taking place “is the process of urbanization, which is changing how most of us live.” The main drivers of that urbanization are Africa and Asia, in which “gigacities” — cities that contain more than 10 million people — are being constructed.
But while urbanization means more people can live in cities, it also has a negative side: “terrible urban pollution,” largely the result of vehicle emissions. And, said Friedland, while “everybody loves to read about how bad it is in China,” the fact is air pollution is a global problem. Indeed, he added, “the World Health Organization (WHO) has now declared that air pollution is the world’s single largest environmental health risk.”