Over 50 countries, cities and organizations pledged new commitments to tackle air pollution, protect public health and help halve its deadly impacts by 2040 – a goal backed by a petition from 47 million health professionals, patients and advocates demanding clean air be made a public health priority.
The Second WHO Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health co-hosted by the World Health Organization and Colombia, in the city of Cartagena, brought together over 700 participants from 100 countries—including heads of state, ministers, scientists, and civil society groups—to accelerate action to curb what’s increasingly described as a full-scale health emergency.
“It is time to move from commitments to bold actions,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.
“To achieve clean air, we need urgent actions on all fronts: financial investment in sustainable solutions, such as in clean energy and sustainable transport, technical enforcement of WHO global air quality guidelines, and social commitment to protect the most vulnerable in our most polluted regions.”
The shared goal? A 50 percent reduction in the health impacts of air pollution by 2040.
Countries, including Brazil, Spain, China and the United Kingdom, laid out national roadmaps, while the Clean Air Fund pledged an additional $90 million for climate and health programs.
Cities which are part of the C40 network, including London, vowed to strengthen air quality monitoring and push for greater investment in clean air strategies.
A health crisis hidden in plain sight
According to WHO, air pollution is responsible for seven million premature deaths annually and is now the second leading global risk factor for disease, after hypertension.
“Today air pollution is the first risk factor for disease burden,” said Maria Neira, WHO’s Director of Environment, Climate Change and Health. “It’s the number one risk factor for getting sick.” UN News
The burden is heaviest in countries with fast-growing cities and weak regulatory frameworks. But Ms. Neira pointed out that the economic costs and health toll are rising globally. “Those chronic diseases are costing us well–to our health system and to our hospitals,” she said.
Despite the grim statistics, WHO leaders say solutions are at hand. Ms. Neira cited China’s progress in cutting emissions while continuing to grow economically. “At one point they demonstrated that you can reduce air pollution while still maintaining economic growth,” she said. “This argument that in order to tackle the causes of climate change, air pollution and environmental health, you need to invest and you don’t obtain benefits immediately–that’s not correct.”
Indeed, air pollution is not just a public health issue but a key driver and symptom of the climate crisis. The burning of fossil fuels which feeds air pollution also releases greenhouse gases–adding to global warming.
“Climate change causes and air pollution causes overlap,” said Ms. Neira. “We have a lot to gain for health, for the economy, and for society, sustainable development, if we accelerate this transition.” UN News