Ahead of the Second WHO Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health in March 2025, the global health community is making an urgent call to action for clean air , urging governments, business leaders and policy-makers to act swiftly to stop air pollution and save lives. Air pollution is responsible for at least 7 million deaths each year, contributing to a growing global health crisis, with the vast majority of deaths caused by noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular issues, respiratory diseases and lung cancer.
"Air pollution is a silent killer. On a global scale, air pollution trends remain largely unchanged in the last 10 years, impacting our health at each breath we take," said Dr Maria Neira, Director, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health, World Health Organization. "Leaders must make bold commitments, while the health community must continue advocating to protect our future. Join the call to action – your signature will help drive the change needed to protect public health from the growing threat of air pollution."
The good news is that air pollution deaths are preventable. Health and care workers, patients, health advocates and civil society organizations are demanding bold, decisive actions from world leaders. Clean air is a human right and critical to the health and well-being of everyone.
The global health cost associated with exposure to air pollution is estimated at US$ 8.1 trillion in 2019. The world is paying for the health consequences of air pollution yet less than 1% of global development aid is dedicated to action to improve air quality in low- and middle-income countries, home to the most vulnerable populations.
"Breathing clean air is undeniably essential for everyone to live, and essential for the right to a healthy environment," said Astrid Puentes Riaño, UN Special Rapporteur on the human right to a healthy environment. "Therefore, governments and businesses must take pending urgent action to implement effective measures to guaranteeing it."
It's time to tackle this crisis. Investing in cleaner air is not only a moral health imperative but also a sound economic strategy to reduce health-care costs, boost productivity and drive sustainable development while mitigating climate change. This call to action demands key actions from world leaders and stakeholders to safeguard public health and ensure clean air for all:
- Enforce robust measures: Governments must enforce strict air quality standards, reduce emissions at the source, and align with WHO's global air quality guidelines.
- Commit to a just clean energy transition: Governments and businesses must transition away from fossil fuels fairly and equitably, ensuring the clean energy transition is inclusive and accessible to all.
- Strengthen capacity: Enhance monitoring systems and institutional capacity to effectively address air quality challenges.
- Increase funding: Boost both domestic and international funding to elevate clean air as a priority on global and national agendas.
- Build intersectoral collaboration: Create and support interdisciplinary and multisectoral workforce development, awareness-raising and training initiatives that empower communities and stakeholders to tackle air pollution effectively.
The health community will continue to advocate for these urgent measures, emphasizing that clean air is not a luxury but a necessity for public health and well-being. The time to act is now, and we cannot afford to wait any longer.
WHO's Second Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health , taking place in Cartagena, Colombia, 25–27 March 2025, will bring together global leaders, experts and advocates to discuss and advance solutions to the air pollution crisis. Decision makers from countries, cities, private sector and donors must take bold and immediate action to secure clean air for all. The Conference presents a key opportunity for governments and other stakeholders to commit to transformative actions that will protect public health and the environment for generations to come.
