More than 47 million health professionals, patients, advocates, representatives from civil society organizations, and individuals worldwide have signed a resounding call for urgent action to reduce air pollution and to protect people’s health from its devastating impacts.
Air pollution is one of the biggest environmental threats to human health and a major contributor to climate change. Around 7 million people die from air pollution each year, mainly from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
In an unprecedented show of unity, the global call to action, spearheaded by the World Health Organization (WHO) and international health organizations will be presented at the Second Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health, set to take place in Cartagena, Colombia next week on 25–27 March 2025.
In a press statement today, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General said WHO is supporting countries to implement evidence-based tools to address air pollution and prevent the disease it causes.
“Forty-seven million people from the health community have issued a clarion call for urgent, bold, science-driven action on air pollution, and their voices must be heard,” said Dr Tedros
At the second WHO Conference on Air Pollution and Health in Cartagena, he added that they hope to see concrete commitments from countries to implement those tools and save lives.
Hosted by WHO and the Government of Colombia, the conference will bring together political leaders, representatives from civil society organizations, UN agencies and academia to drive a global clean air agenda which promises benefits for public health, climate change response and sustainable development, both globally and locally.
The health community is calling on governments to take immediate and ambitious steps to reduce emissions, enforce stricter air quality standards, and transition to cleaner energy sources, unlocking multiple benefits for the health of people and planet
Recognizing the heavy toll of air pollution, the topic will also be a focus ahead of the 2025 UN High-Level meeting on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), where world leaders will be called upon to take stronger action.
NCDs are among the leading causes of death and many are linked to air pollution exposure. The global NCD epidemic claims 41 million lives annually. Addressing air pollution is a key strategy in reducing the burden of NCDs and improving global health.
Dr Maria Neira, WHO Director for Environment, Climate Change and Health says there is need to work together urgently to scale up transitioning from coal-fired power to renewable energy, expanding public and sustainable transport, establishing low-emission zones in cities and promoting clean energy for cooking and solar power in healthcare facilities.”
“While the challenge is immense, progress is possible. Many cities and countries have significantly improved air quality by enforcing stricter pollution limits. Clean air is not a privilege; it is a human right as recognized by the UN General Assembly”, She said
The commitments made at the upcoming Second Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health and the UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs will play a crucial role in paving the way for a healthier, more sustainable future for all. Now is the time to take the call and step up efforts for cleaner air, everywhere.
Around 2.1 billion people are exposed to dangerous levels of household air pollution, while using polluting open fires or stoves for cooking.
In Kenya, Particulate matter is a major source of air pollution which is generated from the traffic, burning fossil fuels for lighting and transportation, chemicals in mines, burning garbage in open areas, burning forests and fields, and using indoor stoves
At the conference, countries are expected to commit to concrete measures, including setting and enforcing stronger air quality standards aligned with the WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines.
By Wangari Ndirangu
