Clean Air: A Right, Not A Privilege – New Roadmap Launched To Aid Governments Tackle Air Pollution

Friday, 21 March 2025, 3:29 pm
Press Release: Global Climate and Health Alliance

20 March 2025

Ahead of next week’s WHO conference
on the health impacts of air pollution, health professionals
are calling for governments to urgently protect their
populations from the deadly health impacts of polluted air
and ramp up investment in national health systems – and
have
provided a roadmap for health ministries to achieve
this. 

The recommendations are detailed in a new
publication, Clean
Air, Healthy Lives: A Policy Roadmap for Health Systems to
Tackle Air Pollution, by the Global Climate and
Health Alliance (GCHA) ahead of the World Health
Organization’s
Second Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health,
which takes place from 24-28 March in Cartagena,
Colombia. 

Clean
Air, Healthy Lives: A Policy Roadmap for Health Systems to
Tackle Air Pollution will be presented at an
official conference event on March 24th, Roundtable:
Advancing Policy Action and Health Leadership to Combat Air
Pollution. Panelists include Hon Gloria Balboa,
Under Secretary, Dept of Health, Philippines and Dr Maria
Niera, Director of the Department of Public Health and
Environment at the World Health Organization
(WHO). 

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“Clean air is not a ‘nice to have’ –
it’s a public health necessity, and the profound and
far-reaching health impacts of air pollution demand an
urgent, coordinated, and strategic response from governments
worldwide”, said Shweta Narayan, roadmap
author and Campaign Lead at the Global Climate and Health
Alliance Campaign, which is made up of over 200 health
professional and health civil society organisations and
networks from around the world. “To address this crisis
effectively, governments must reframe air pollution not
merely as a challenge of emissions reductions or technology,
but as a critical and preventable threat to the public
health and well-being of people, which requires urgent,
health-centered action to protect lives and communities. The
solutions already exist – governments cannot afford to
dither on taking action”.

The policy
roadmap highlights the essential components of a
comprehensive strategy for governments: empowering health
leadership, investing in resilient health infrastructure,
fostering cross-sectoral collaboration, and engaging
communities. Case studies from India, Singapore, the
Philippines, the ASEAN region, the UK, and South Africa
demonstrate the transformative potential of integrating
health considerations into air quality management,
leveraging data to inform patient care, driving policy
advocacy, and enabling community-led
interventions.

“We created this policy
roadmap with the intention of providing practical
support for countries making bold commitments at the WHO
Conference”, said Narayan. “We wanted to ensure it
contains clear guidance and real-world case studies
demonstrating successful approaches, so when countries
return home, they have concrete ideas, actionable guidance,
and proven examples to help turn their commitments into
tangible actions.”

Air pollution is a critical
environmental health threat worldwide, responsible for seven
million premature deaths annually, making it the
second leading risk factor for mortality globally,
surpassing even tobacco and poor diet.The impact of air
pollution is profound leading to
1 in 8 deaths worldwide, including increased risk of
cardiovascular diseases, respiratory disorders like asthma
and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD), and
various cancers. Nearly 90% of the deaths attributed
to air pollution in 2021 resulted from noncommunicable
diseases (NCDs), underscoring the need for
better integrated approaches to environmental determinants
of disease. In children under five years old, air
pollution accounted for approximately 700,000 deaths every
year i.e. one
child every minute, highlighting its devastating
effect on the most vulnerable
populations. 

Through presenting a series of
case studies, the policy
roadmap provides a clear and actionable pathway for
health ministries—particularly in Low- and Middle-income
Countries —at national, subnational, and local levels to
strengthen their capacity and develop their leadership to
address air pollution-related health burdens. The roadmap is
centered on two main objectives:

• To outline
  progressive measures and policies already adopted by health
  ministries and agencies in locations around the world to
  address air pollution and health, showcasing their design
  and implementation.
• To demonstrate the efficacy of
  these measures through curated, evidence-based case studies
  from diverse global contexts, providing actionable insights
  for health leaders.

“Government investment can
ensure the health sector can better respond to air
pollution, providing multifaceted benefits”, said Narayan.
“Investment equips health professionals with the tools and
resources needed to mitigate impacts, conduct research, and
implement public health initiatives, and allows health
ministries to take a leading role, working alongside
environmental agencies to ensure a comprehensive and
coordinated response”, she added. “Furthermore, these
investments generate valuable health data, strengthening the
evidence base for policy advocacy and providing concrete
proof of air pollution’s systemic
impacts.”

“Beyond medical care, directing
resources to the health sector creates a ripple effect”,
continued Narayan.”Enhanced healthcare services improve
recovery outcomes and empower those affected by air
pollution-related illnesses. Communities with knowledge of
the links between health and environmental factors are more
likely to show strong public support for stronger clean air
policies. By fostering public awareness and building
advocacy networks, governments can lay the foundation for
robust social engagement that supports accountability and
accelerates systemic change in the health sector and
beyond.”

“Cleaning up the air is one of the most
effective and affordable ways to improve public health while
reducing healthcare costs and saving government
resources”, said Dr Mark Hayden, Paediatrician at Great
Ormond Street Hospital, UK and Ride
For Their Lives rider who contributed to the policy
roadmap. “Every step toward cleaner air means fewer
hospital visits, lower medical expenses, and healthier
communities. Health workers across all fields should be
strong advocates for both behavioral and systemic
changes—at the individual, city, and national levels—to
protect health and ease the growing strain on healthcare
budgets.”

“Addressing air pollution as a public
health issue also highlights its implications for social
equity. Vulnerable populations, who bear the brunt of air
pollution’s effects, must be central to policy
considerations”, said Gloria Balboa, Under Secretary,
Department of Health, Philippines, who will speak at the
Global Climate and Health Alliance’s event Roundtable:
Advancing Policy Action and Health Leadership to Combat Air
Pollution on March 24th at the Second
Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health.
“Health-centered approaches ensure that responses are
inclusive and equitable, protecting all citizens and
addressing critical social justice concerns. The Philippines
is proud to be among the first countries to align our air
quality guidelines with the WHO’s recommended standards,
including the critical update of PM2.5 thresholds. This is
not just a regulatory milestone—it is a profound
commitment to protecting the health of every
Filipino.”

“Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is one
of the most dangerous pollutants, penetrating deep into the
lungs and bloodstream, causing severe respiratory and
cardiovascular diseases”, added Balboa. “By integrating
health into our environmental policies through the
Inter-Agency Committee on Environmental Health and the
National Environmental Health Action Plan, we are
demonstrating leadership that puts people first. Our updated
air quality guidelines are a critical step toward a
healthier, more resilient future, setting a powerful example
for the region and the world.”

“Health systems must
act as catalysts for systemic change, providing care for
those affected while driving the structural transformations
across sectors needed to combat air pollution at its
source”, said Dr Jeni Miller, Executive Director of the
Global Climate and Health Alliance. “This is a defining
moment for health leadership to rise to the challenge. With
the right tools, strategies, and partnerships in place,
governments can transform air pollution from a daunting
challenge into an opportunity to advance public health,
social equity, and sustainable development. Together, we
must create a future where clean air is not a privilege but
a fundamental right, ensuring healthier lives, stronger
communities, and a more equitable and just
world.”

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