Helena Joyce
Air pollution is a pressing global issue, causing approximately 6.5 million deaths annually and costing the global economy $225 billion in lost labour income. In 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) held its inaugural Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health in Geneva, bringing together leaders, academics, and non-governmental organizations from across the world. The conference aimed to address the health and economic impacts of air pollution, with a particular focus on reducing the number of deaths attributed to poor air quality, which stands at around one-third of all deaths from stroke, lung cancer, and heart disease.
What You'll Learn
Health impacts of air pollution
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized air pollution as one of the greatest environmental threats to human health, causing approximately 7 million deaths annually. Air pollution is linked to a wide range of adverse health outcomes, affecting almost all vital organs and systems in the human body.
The health impacts of air pollution are far-reaching and include respiratory, cardiovascular, and pulmonary diseases, cancer, low birth weight, diabetes, cognitive impairment, and mental health issues. Even more concerning is the impact on children, with air pollution causing more than half of all child deaths from acute lower respiratory infections in children under 5 years of age in lower-middle-income countries. Additionally, children under 18 are at risk, with over 90% of them living with air pollution levels that exceed WHO guidelines.
The Second WHO Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health, held in 2025, aimed to address these pressing issues. Over 700 participants from more than 60 countries attended, including government representatives, health professionals, and ministers of health, environment, and energy. The conference concluded with significant commitments from over 50 countries, cities, and organizations to reduce the health impacts of air pollution by 50% by 2040, with the goal of saving 3 million lives annually.
Several countries made specific pledges to tackle air pollution and improve health outcomes. For instance, the United Kingdom reaffirmed its commitment by setting health-based targets for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and publishing an Air Quality Strategy to increase public awareness. Brazil and China also pledged to strengthen interministerial cooperation, improve air quality standards, and enhance international cooperation.
The conference highlighted the urgency of addressing air pollution through policy solutions, multi-sectoral actions, and the integration of planetary health into medical education. By reducing air pollution and improving air quality, the goal is to save lives, protect child health, and mitigate climate change on a global scale.
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Strategies to reduce air pollution
In 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) held its inaugural Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health in Geneva. The conference was attended by leaders, academics, and representatives from non-governmental organizations around the world. Notably, however, there were no corporate leaders in attendance.
The conference addressed air pollution as a significant cause of premature mortality, with approximately 6.5 million deaths occurring annually due to this issue. Up to one-third of deaths from stroke, lung cancer, and heart disease are caused by air pollution. It also impacts the global economy, resulting in an annual loss of $225 billion in labor income.
Identify Priority Pollutants
The first step is to identify the specific pollutants that are of concern for a particular location. This identification process should consider the associated health and environmental impacts, as well as the severity of the air quality problem in that area. For instance, in most cities, air pollution levels exceed the recommended WHO Air Quality standards.
Control Sources of Pollution
Once the priority pollutants are identified, the next step is to develop measures to control and reduce them. This involves implementing strategies to address the sources of pollution, such as emissions from transportation, energy production, agriculture, waste management, and household activities.
Develop a Comprehensive Plan
Creating a detailed plan that incorporates the identified control measures is essential. This plan should include clear implementation timelines and specify the requirements for owners or operators of emission sources to reduce their contribution to air pollution. It is also beneficial to involve the public and invite input from various stakeholders during the planning process to ensure a comprehensive approach.
Utilize Clean Technologies
Adopting clean technologies and pollution prevention approaches can significantly reduce air pollution. This includes using less toxic raw materials and fuels, improving industrial process efficiency, and implementing emission controls on vehicles. The Clean Air Technology Center provides resources on various pollution prevention and control technologies, such as mechanical collectors, fabric filters, combustion systems, and biological degradation methods.
Implement Economic Incentives
Economic incentives, such as emissions trading, banking, and caps, can be effective tools to reduce air pollution. These strategies can be combined with traditional "command-and-control" regulations enforced by air pollution control agencies. Additionally, cost analysis models and tools can support the assessment of emission reduction strategies and their associated engineering costs.
Promote Cross-Sector Collaborations
Collaborations between the health, environment, and development sectors are crucial in reducing air pollution and mitigating climate change. By working together, these sectors can develop and implement effective strategies that address the interconnected nature of air pollution and health. This includes promoting health-wise policies on clean household energy, transport, and waste management.
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Air pollution and climate change
Air pollution is a pressing global issue that demands urgent attention and collective action. It poses a significant threat to human health and the environment, causing approximately 6.5 million deaths annually and costing the global economy billions of dollars in lost labour income. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes the severity of this issue and organized its first Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health in 2018.
The conference highlighted the critical links between air pollution and the global epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). It emphasized the impact of air pollution on respiratory infections, with household air pollution being a leading killer in poor rural and urban areas. Fine particles from indoor smoke in poorly ventilated dwellings can reach dangerously high levels, exacerbating the health risks. Additionally, outdoor pollutants, such as automobile emissions, chemical odours, and factory smoke, contribute to the overall decline in air quality.
Climate change is intricately linked to air pollution, and addressing air pollution is crucial in mitigating its effects. The conference sessions explored strategies to reduce air pollution and its associated climate impacts. These strategies encompass various sectors, including transport, energy, agriculture, waste, and housing. For example, affordable interventions in the transport sector can significantly reduce key pollution emissions, contributing to both improved air quality and reduced climate change.
Furthermore, the conference called for a global advocacy campaign, BreatheLife2030, urging countries, urban mayors, and civil society to commit to meeting WHO Air Quality Guidelines and reducing climate emissions. This campaign aims to reduce the number of deaths attributed to air pollution and achieve sustainable development goals for health, energy, and cities. It is essential to recognize that air pollution is a shared responsibility, and collaborative efforts between the health, environment, and development sectors are vital in tackling this global challenge.
In conclusion, the WHO's inaugural Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health shed light on the dire consequences of air pollution and its intrinsic connection to climate change. It served as a platform for discussing concrete actions and strategies to address this crisis. By highlighting the health impacts and economic costs of air pollution, the conference urged the participation of various sectors, including businesses, to join forces in combating this significant cause of premature mortality worldwide.
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Air pollution in cities
Air pollution is a pressing issue that affects cities worldwide, and it was the focus of the World Health Organization's (WHO) inaugural Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health in 2018. The conference highlighted the severe health and economic impacts of air pollution, with leaders from various countries, academics, and non-governmental organizations in attendance.
One of the key concerns addressed during the conference was the impact of air pollution on human health. According to WHO, air pollution causes approximately 6.5 million deaths annually worldwide, with up to one-third of these being from stroke, lung cancer, and heart disease. Poor air quality contributes to respiratory infections, and indoor air pollution from solid fuels is a significant contributor to the global burden of disease, especially in poorly ventilated dwellings. The presence of gases, dust particulates, fumes, or odours in large amounts can cause harmful damage to both living beings and the environment.
The economic implications of air pollution are also significant. It costs the global economy an estimated $225 billion each year in lost labour income. Businesses operating in cities with high air pollution levels may face challenges in recruiting senior talent, as seen in the example of American firms in Chinese cities, where the majority blamed air pollution as a factor. Additionally, poor air quality leads to an increase in sick days, impacting productivity. For instance, air pollution in central London is estimated to cause the equivalent of over 650,000 sick days annually.
However, the conference also emphasized that affordable strategies exist to mitigate these issues. By focusing on sectors like transport, energy, agriculture, waste, and housing, significant reductions in air pollution can be achieved. Health-conscious strategies can play a crucial role in reducing climate change and supporting sustainable development goals. The conference called for urgent action, setting a target to reduce the number of deaths attributed to air pollution by 2030.
Cities play a pivotal role in combating air pollution. Urban mayors and civil societies were invited to commit to the global advocacy campaign BreatheLife2030.org, aiming to meet WHO Air Quality Guidelines and reduce climate emissions. The conference also explored cross-sector collaborations between health, environment, and development sectors to implement effective solutions. Strategies and solutions adopted by cities to improve air quality at the urban and household levels were discussed, emphasizing the importance of informed decisions and planning interventions.
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Air pollution in households
Household air pollution is a leading cause of premature mortality, causing an estimated 3.2 million deaths each year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This issue was addressed during the WHO's first Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health in 2018.
Causes of Household Air Pollution
Household air pollution is primarily caused by the burning of polluting fuels and the use of inefficient or unstable stoves. These fuels include wood, animal dung, charcoal, agricultural waste, kerosene, and coal. The combustion of these fuels releases particulate matter and other pollutants, which pose significant health risks, especially in enclosed spaces.
Health Risks
The health consequences of household air pollution are extensive and affect both children and adults. In children, exposure to indoor air pollution is responsible for almost half of all pneumonia-related deaths and contributes to other respiratory infections, asthma, and ear infections. There is also emerging evidence linking household air pollution to low birth weight, stillbirth, upper respiratory infections, tuberculosis, and various cancers.
Adults are not exempt from the dangers of household air pollution. The inhalation of pollutants can lead to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, stroke, and cardiovascular disease. Additionally, the fine particulate matter in indoor smoke can cause inflammation in the airways and lungs, impairing immune response and reducing the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity.
Socioeconomic Factors
Low-income households are more likely to rely on solid fuels for cooking and heating due to the unavailability or high cost of cleaner alternatives. This disparity is evident in the comparison between urban and rural areas, with 14% of people in urban areas using polluting fuels, compared to 49% in rural areas globally. As a result, death rates from household air pollution are higher in areas with limited access to clean fuels and technologies.
Strategies for Improvement
To address household air pollution, the WHO has issued guidelines for indoor air quality, recommending the use of clean fuels and technologies. These include solar power, electricity, biogas, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), natural gas, alcohol fuels, and biomass stoves that meet emission targets. Additionally, policies that provide financial support for cleaner technologies, improved ventilation, and communication campaigns can encourage the adoption of clean energy practices.
Global Efforts
The WHO's Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health aimed to address the health and economic impacts of air pollution, with a focus on reducing the 6.5 million annual deaths attributed to it. The conference included discussions on strategies for improving air quality at the household level, cross-sector collaborations, and a "Call for Urgent Action" to meet sustainable development goals.
In conclusion, household air pollution is a critical global issue with far-reaching health and socioeconomic consequences. Addressing this issue requires a combination of policy interventions, increased access to clean fuels and technologies, and a collective effort to implement sustainable practices at the household level.
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Frequently asked questions
The Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health is a conference organised by the World Health Organization (WHO) to address the issue of air pollution, which causes approximately 6.5 million deaths annually.
The first WHO Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health took place in Geneva in 2018.
The conference discussed the health impacts of air pollution, including the latest research on health effects, forecasting, monitoring, and extreme events. It also covered methods and tools for informed decision-making, strategies for improving air quality, and cross-sector collaborations to reduce air pollution and mitigate climate change.
The conference was attended by leaders from various countries, academics, non-governmental organizations, and urban mayors. Notably, there was an absence of corporate leaders at the event.
