In an unprecedented sample of unity, more than 47 million health professionals, patients, defenders, representatives of civil society organizations and individuals worldwide have signed a resounding call for urgent actions to reduce air pollution and protect the health of people from their devastating impacts.
This global call to action, headed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and international health organizations, will be presented at the Second World Conference on Air and Health Contamination in Cartagena, Colombia, next week.
Air pollution is one of the greatest environmental threats to human health and an important taxpayer to climate change. Around 7 million people die from air pollution every year, mainly of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
The CEO of the WHO, Dr. Tedros Adhanom, in a statement, said: *”Forty -seven million people from the health community have issued a call from Clarón for urgent, bold action and based on science on air pollution, and their voices must be heard.
“Worldwide, which supports countries to implement evidence -based tools to address air pollution and prevent the disease. In the second WHO conference on air and health pollution in Cartagena, we hope to see concrete commitments of the countries to implement these tools and save lives. ”*
Dr. Maria Neira, Director of Environment, Climate Change and Health, declared that, although the challenge is immense, progress is possible. Many cities and countries have significantly improved air quality by enforcing the strictest contamination limits.
Neira added: “Clean air is not a privilege; It is a human right recognized by the UN General Assembly. We need to work together urgently to expand the transition from coal energy to renewable energy, expand public and sustainable transport, establish low -emission areas in cities and promote clean energy for cooking and solar energy in medical care facilities. “
Organized by the WHO and the Government of Colombia, the Conference will bring together political leaders, representatives of civil society organizations, UN Agencies and Academy to boost a global agenda of a clean air promising benefits for public health, the response to climate change and sustainable development, both worldwide as local.
Recognizing the great cost of air pollution, the health community is asking governments to take immediate and ambitious measures to reduce emissions, enforce the strictest air quality standards and the transition to cleaner energy sources, unlock multiple benefits for the health of people and the planet.
The issue will also be an approach before the 2025 high -level UN high -level meeting on non -communicable diseases (NCD), where world leaders will be called to take stronger measures.
At the conference, countries are expected to commit to concrete measures, including configuration and application of stronger air quality standards aligned with WHO global air quality guidelines. Last month, who, in collaboration with the Tropical and Public Health Institute Switzerland (Swiss TPH), presented the updated database of the air quality of 2025, which now includes data from approximately 140 countries. This shows its regulatory efforts of air pollution aimed at protecting public health.
Air pollution in cities and rural areas generates fine particles, resulting in NCD as a stroke, heart disease, lung cancer and chronic respiratory diseases, as well as acute conditions such as pneumonia.
Air pollution sources are varied and specific to the context. The main sources include pollutant energy sources used in homes, energy production, industrial emissions, transport, agriculture, waste, as well as natural sources such as desert dust storms or forest fires.
Around 2.1 billion people are exposed to dangerous levels of domestic air pollution due to the use of open fires or cooking stoves.
Non -communicable diseases (ENT) are among the main causes of death, with many linked to exposure to air pollution. The Global NCD epidemic affirms 41 million lives annually. Address air pollution is a key strategy to reduce ENTs and improve global health.
Improving air quality through the implementation of well -known and available solutions will avoid premature deaths, improve health, promote sustainable economic development and mitigate climate change.
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