Cartagena: 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 a significant environmental threat to human health and a major contributor to climate change, causing approximately 7 million deaths each year, primarily from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
According to Kenya News Agency, the global call to action, led by the World Health Organization (WHO) and international health organizations, will be presented at the Second Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health, scheduled to be held in Cartagena, Colombia, on March 25-27, 2025. In a recent press statement, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized WHO's support for countries in implementing evidence-based tools to combat air pollution and prevent related diseases.
Dr. Tedros highlighted the collective voice of 47 million people from the health community, urging for immediate, bold, and science-driven action on air pollution. He expressed hope that the upcoming conference in Cartagena would see countries making concrete commitments to use these tools and save lives. Hosted by WHO and the Government of Colombia, the conference aims to unite political leaders, civil society organizations, UN agencies, and academia to advance a global clean air agenda that benefits public health, climate change responses, and sustainable development.
The health community is urging governments to take immediate and ambitious steps to reduce emissions, enforce stricter air quality standards, and transition to cleaner energy sources, thereby unlocking multiple benefits for both human and planetary health. The issue will also be a focal point at the 2025 UN High-Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), where world leaders will be encouraged to take stronger action.
NCDs, which are among the leading causes of death, are often linked to air pollution exposure, claiming 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, stressed the need for urgent collaboration to scale up efforts such as 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.
Dr. Neira noted that despite the challenges, progress is achievable, citing examples of cities and countries that have significantly improved air quality by enforcing stricter pollution limits. She emphasized that clean air is not a privilege but a human right, as recognized by the UN General Assembly. The commitments made at the upcoming Second Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health and the UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs will be crucial in paving the way for a healthier, more sustainable future for all.
Globally, around 2.1 billion people are exposed to dangerous levels of household air pollution, primarily due to the use of polluting open fires or stoves for cooking. In Kenya, particulate matter, a major source of air pollution, is generated from 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.