GENEVA, Switzerland — Air pollution remains a critical global health issue, posing severe risks especially to children and contributing to millions of premature deaths annually, according to recent findings. Despite ongoing efforts to improve air quality worldwide, a staggering 99% of the global population breathes air that fails to meet the World Health Organization’s air quality guidelines.
Recent data shows the grim health consequences of air pollution, with an estimated 6.7 million premature deaths linked to both ambient (outdoor) and household air pollution every year. In 2019 alone, ambient air pollution was responsible for approximately 4.2 million deaths, predominantly from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and cancers. The burden of these deaths disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries, where 89% of these fatalities occur, particularly in Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific regions.
The exposure to fine particulate matter, small enough to enter and cause damage to the lungs and cardiovascular system, is a primary driver of diseases such as ischaemic heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute lower respiratory infections, and lung cancer. WHO data from 2019 highlighted that 68% of deaths related to outdoor air pollution were due to heart disease and strokes.
Addressing air pollution requires comprehensive strategies and policies across multiple sectors including energy, transport, and waste management. Initiatives that promote cleaner industrial technologies, enhance urban planning, and advocate for green, energy-efficient practices are critical. Additionally, improving access to clean household energy solutions can significantly mitigate the levels of ambient air pollution.
Among the effective measures to combat air pollution are shifting to cleaner modes of power generation, prioritizing sustainable urban transit options, and implementing stringent emission controls on heavy-duty diesel vehicles and industrial smokestacks. Moreover, expansion of renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydropower are integral to decreasing reliance on combustion-based power.
Promoting strategies for better management of urban and agricultural waste also plays a crucial role. These include advancements in waste recycling, the capture and use of methane from organic waste, and the shift towards anaerobic digestion systems instead of open incineration practices, which are highly polluting.
The health sector can also lead by example by adopting low-carbon strategies to make health service delivery more resilient, cost-efficient, and environmentally friendly. Such initiatives not only reduce pollution but also bolster overall community health resilience.
WHO has offered global air quality guidelines that provide threshold limits for key pollutants like particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide — all of which have established health risks. These guidelines also suggest interim targets to progressively reduce air pollution levels and enhance public health outcomes worldwide.
With the urgency of these issues acknowledged at the highest levels of international health policy-setting, WHO member states have committed to intensifying efforts to address air pollution. In 2015, during the World Health Assembly, all WHO member states endorsed a critical resolution to combat the health impacts of air pollution, paving the way for a more coordinated global response.
Through its Air Quality and Health Unit, the World Health Organization is actively supporting countries by providing evidence-based guidance, boosting institutional capacities, and fostering intersectoral collaborations to effectively manage and mitigate air pollution. By championing these concerted efforts, WHO aims to realize substantial reductions in air pollution levels globally, thus safeguarding public health now and for future generations.