More than 47 million health professionals, patients, advocates, representatives from civil society organizations, and individuals have united to issue a global call for urgent action to tackle air pollution, highlighting the health risks it poses to millions. This collective appeal will be presented at the Second Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health, hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Government of Colombia from March 25 to March 27, 2025, in Cartagena.
Air pollution has emerged as one of the foremost environmental threats to human health, claiming around 7 million lives each year, primarily due to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus remarked, “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.” This emphasizes the weight of the message and the urgent need for intervention.
The conference is set to gather political leaders, representatives from civil society groups, UN agencies, and academics, all aimed at fostering a global agenda for clean air. The discussions will focus on the immediate and ambitious actions required to reduce emissions and the enforcement of stricter air quality standards. Dr. Maria Neira, WHO Director for Environment, Climate Change and Health, highlighted the potential for significant improvement, mentioning, “While the challenge is immense, progress is possible. Many cities and countries have significantly improved air quality by enforcing stricter pollution limits.”
The call to action is not just rhetoric; it responds to real, devastating statistics. The global epidemic of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), which claims 41 million lives each year, is significantly intertwined with air pollution exposure. Fine particulate matter from air pollution leads to severe health issues, including stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and acute conditions like pneumonia.
About 2.1 billion people globally are exposed to dangerous levels of household air pollution, primarily due to the use of open fires or polluting stoves for cooking. This data highlights the urgency of transitioning to cleaner energy sources. “Clean air is not a privilege; it is a human right as recognized by the UN General Assembly,” asserted Dr. Neira. She called for accelerated efforts to move away from coal-fired power to renewable energy, expand public transportation, establish low-emission zones, and promote solar power for healthcare facilities.
Apart from immediate solutions, the global health community is also gearing up for the 2025 UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs, which intends to spotlight air pollution and its health impacts. “At the second WHO Conference on Air Pollution and Health, we hope to see concrete commitments from countries to implement tools to save lives,” Dr. Tedros added, underscoring the centrality of the issue on the global stage.
Evidence from WHO and its partners reveals the successful strategies employed by various nations to combat air pollution. Many governments have already begun adopting stricter regulations and embracing sustainable practices, reaping the benefits of improved public health and sustainable economic development. The updated 2025 Air Quality Standards database, recently released by WHO and the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), incorporates data from about 140 countries, showcasing worldwide regulatory efforts aimed at reducing air pollution.
Key sources of air pollution vary by region and include both human-made emissions from industry, transportation, energy production, and agriculture, along with natural phenomena such as dust storms and wildfires. The commitment made at the upcoming conference is expected to lead to concrete measures, including aligning air quality standards with WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines.
Improving air quality is of utmost importance for preventing premature deaths and enhancing the overall health of populations. The statistics around these diseases underline the necessity for targeted action, with many nations recognizing the intersection of climate action and health improvement.
This international effort aims not only to protect public health but also to combat climate change, creating pathways toward sustainable development across diverse landscapes. By addressing air pollution as part of comprehensive health strategies, nations can catalyze improvements not just for their populations but for the planet.
Overall, the urgent message leading to the Second Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health could not be clearer: clean air is key to healthy lives, and the collective voice of health professionals worldwide calls for immediate and concerted actions to address this pressing global challenge.
