Global Action On Air Pollution And Health

The World Health Organization (WHO) hosted the Second Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health on June 19, 2024. The conference, jointly organized with the Government of Colombia, brought together over 700 participants from 100 countries, including government representatives, UN agencies, civil society, scientists, and health societies. The goal of the conference was to accelerate action for clean air, clean energy access, and climate change mitigation by highlighting evidence-based, coordinated multi-sectoral solutions to prevent diseases, protect child health, and limit climate change. Countries, regions, and cities committed to reducing air pollution by 2030 and beyond, with a shared goal of reducing health impacts by 50% by 2040. The conference concluded with powerful commitments to protect public health, including new funding pledges and policies.

Air pollution and children's health

Air pollution is a critical public health issue that affects people of all ages, but children are especially vulnerable. During the First Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognized air pollution and children's health as a global health emergency. Indeed, it is a matter that requires urgent attention and collective action.

Children are more susceptible to the harmful effects of air pollution because their bodies are still developing, and they have immature immune and respiratory systems. They also breathe faster than adults, taking in more air relative to their body weight. As a result, toxic pollutants can have a more significant impact on their health. Mounting evidence links air pollution to various adverse health outcomes, including respiratory, cardiovascular, and pulmonary diseases, cancer, low birth weight, diabetes, cognitive impairment, and mental health issues. These health problems can have long-lasting consequences for children, affecting their growth, development, and overall quality of life.

Outdoor workers, including agricultural, construction, waste collection workers, and traffic police, are particularly vulnerable to air pollution. This is especially relevant for children who work or spend extended periods outdoors, as they may be exposed to higher levels of pollutants and face greater health risks. In addition to respiratory issues, air pollution has been linked to cognitive impairment, affecting children's learning abilities and academic performance.

To address these concerns, the WHO conference emphasized the need for equipping national health workforces to tackle air pollution and protect children's health. This includes improving air quality monitoring, particularly in areas close to schools, and implementing policies to reduce air pollution and improve overall air quality. By taking action, we can mitigate the impact of air pollution on children's health and ensure they have a healthier environment in which to grow and thrive.

The Second Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health, held in 2025, concluded with significant commitments from countries, cities, and organizations to tackle air pollution and safeguard health. Among the pledges, participants committed to strengthening efforts across sectors, improving air quality, promoting clean energy technologies, and developing early warning systems for wildfire prevention. These commitments demonstrate a global recognition of the urgency to address air pollution and protect the health of current and future generations, including our most vulnerable populations – our children.

Energy poverty and health risks

The conference highlights the health risks associated with energy poverty, particularly the impacts of air pollution on vulnerable populations. Energy poverty refers to the lack of access to modern energy services, such as electricity and clean cooking fuels, which can have detrimental effects on health. Household air pollution, often caused by the use of solid fuels and kerosene for cooking and heating, is a significant contributor to respiratory, cardiovascular, and pulmonary diseases, as well as low birth weight, cognitive impairment, and mental health issues. It is responsible for an estimated 7 million deaths annually worldwide.

To address these health risks, the conference emphasizes the importance of accelerating access to clean energy and improving air quality. This includes promoting the use of clean cooking technologies, particularly in vulnerable communities, and strengthening air quality monitoring, especially in low- and middle-income countries. By transitioning to cleaner energy sources and implementing air pollution reduction policies, countries can significantly improve public health outcomes and reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases associated with energy poverty.

Additionally, the conference discusses the co-benefits of addressing energy poverty and air pollution. By improving access to clean energy, countries can also mitigate climate change, promote gender equity, and drive sustainable economic development. This multi-sectoral approach, involving collaboration between health, energy, environment, and other sectors, is crucial for tackling the interconnected issues of energy poverty and air pollution, ultimately safeguarding the health and well-being of populations worldwide.

The conference concludes with powerful commitments from countries, cities, and organizations to tackle air pollution and protect public health. For example, Colombia demonstrated its determination to fight air pollution by committing to strengthen efforts across sectors, promote clean energy technologies, and develop early warning systems for wildfire prevention. These commitments reflect a global recognition of the urgent need to address the health risks associated with energy poverty and air pollution and to take bold actions toward achieving sustainable solutions.

Clean air prescriptions

The Second Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health, held in 2024, aimed to accelerate action for clean air, clean energy access, and climate change mitigation. The conference brought together a diverse range of participants, including government representatives, UN agencies, health professionals, and civil society organizations. One of the key focuses was to mobilize, value, and empower health professionals to prescribe clean air as a vital component of healthcare. This involved providing them with the knowledge and tools to understand the health impacts of air pollution and address them effectively.

Concrete policies and interventions are also crucial in clean air prescriptions. For example, Spain committed to achieving a carbon-neutral healthcare system by 2050 through emission reduction and multi-sectoral collaboration. The United Kingdom reaffirmed its commitment by setting health-based fine particulate matter targets and publishing an Air Quality Strategy. India's National Clean Air Programme aims to reduce the health impacts of air pollution by strengthening surveillance and promoting cleaner cooking energy for vulnerable populations. These country-specific commitments demonstrate the practical steps needed to improve air quality and protect public health.

Air quality monitoring

The First Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health, held in 2018, recognised the need to strengthen air quality monitoring in low- and middle-income countries, especially in areas close to hospitals, schools, and workplaces. Low-cost sensors and other new technologies can expand air quality monitoring and forecasting to underserved areas. However, new protocols and standards are required to guide the effective use and interpretation of data produced by low-cost sensors.

The conference highlighted the links between air pollution and the global epidemic of non-communicable diseases, positioning the health sector to catalyse actions for health-wise policies in sectors like clean household energy, transport, and waste management. It also emphasised the need to improve air quality to reduce the burden of these diseases significantly.

Outdoor workers, including agricultural, construction, waste collection staff, and traffic police, are particularly vulnerable to ambient air pollution, with at least 1.2 billion people working outdoors most of the time. These workers face additional environmental risks, such as heat, cold, heavy rain, wind, solar UV, and allergenic pollens.

The Second Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health, held in 2024, concluded with significant commitments from over 50 countries, cities, and organisations to address air pollution and protect public health. Pledges included integrating air pollution and planetary health into medical education and equipping healthcare professionals with tools to address health impacts.

Furthermore, countries like Spain and the United Kingdom committed to achieving carbon-neutral healthcare systems and tackling air pollution through various initiatives. These conferences aim to accelerate action for clean air, clean energy access, and climate change mitigation, showcasing the global momentum to tackle air pollution as a critical public health issue.

Health sector emissions

The health sector is a major contributor to global emissions, and as such, is a key area of focus for mitigating climate change and improving air quality. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized the need to reduce the environmental footprint of the health sector and has made this a priority in its global conferences on air pollution and health.

The First Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health, held in 2018, emphasized the links between air pollution and the global epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The conference positioned the health sector to catalyze actions for health-wise policies in sectors such as clean household energy, transport, and waste management. It was recognized that improving air quality is essential to significantly reducing the burden of NCDs.

Access to reliable and sustainable energy in healthcare facilities is crucial to achieving universal health coverage. However, the health sector itself contributes significantly to emissions, particularly through the use of fossil fuels for energy generation and the emissions from medical procedures and equipment. The health sector must lead by example in transitioning to cleaner energy sources and reducing its own environmental footprint.

The Second Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health, held in 2024, built on the discussions from the first conference and resulted in concrete commitments from countries and organizations to tackle air pollution and protect public health. Over 50 countries, cities, and organizations made pledges to reduce air pollution and improve health outcomes. For example, Spain committed to achieving a carbon-neutral healthcare system by 2050 through emission reduction, multi-sectoral collaboration, and promoting innovation. The United Kingdom reaffirmed its commitment to tackling air pollution, including by setting health-based targets for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and publishing an Air Quality Strategy.

The health sector has a crucial role to play in mitigating its environmental footprint and contributing to global efforts to address air pollution. By reducing emissions and improving air quality, the health sector can not only improve public health outcomes but also demonstrate leadership and catalyze action in other sectors. The WHO's global conferences have provided a platform for countries and organizations to come together, share knowledge, and make commitments to drive meaningful change.

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