Air pollution
Air pollution is one of the greatest environmental risk to health. Air pollution leads people to be exposed to fine particles in polluted air that penetrate deep into the lungs and cardiovascular system, causing diseases including stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and respiratory infections.
WHO data show that almost all of the global population (99%) breathe air that exceeds WHO guideline limits and contains high levels of pollutants, with low- and middle-income countries suffering from the highest exposures. Both ambient (outdoor) and household (indoor) air pollution are responsible for about 7 million deaths globally per year; in the Western Pacific Region alone, around 2.2 million people die each year.
Air quality is closely linked to the earth’s climate and ecosystems globally. Many of the drivers of air pollution (i.e. combustion of fossil fuels) are also sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Policies to reduce air pollution, therefore, offer a win-win strategy for both climate and health, lowering the burden of disease attributable to air pollution, as well as contributing to the near- and long-term mitigation of climate change.
The Western Pacific Region bears the greatest share of deaths due to air pollution globally. Every 14 seconds a person dies as a result of air pollution in the Region. Children – especially those in low-income countries with fewer resources to mitigate the health impacts – are among the most at risk. Older people are also especially vulnerable to respiratory and other diseases caused by air pollution and aeroallergens.
Sources of air pollution are multiple and context specific. The major outdoor pollution sources include residential energy for cooking and heating, vehicles, power generation, agriculture/waste incineration, and industry.
Policies and investments that support sustainable land use, cleaner household energy and transport, energy-efficient housing, power generation, industry, and better municipal waste management can effectively reduce key sources of ambient air pollution.
Under the For the Future vision for making the Western Pacific the healthiest and safest region, WHO supports countries in the Region to develop narratives and arguments about the relationship between climate change, environmental degradation and health, including air pollution, in order to advocate for action at the highest political level.
WHO also monitors the health impacts air pollution and climate change on health; and provides technical support to Member States in the development of normative guidance, tools and provision of authoritative advice on health issues related to air pollution and its sources.
WHO works to ensure national climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies – and environmental health action plans – prioritize health sector resilience to climate and environmental change, and are able to mitigate the health impact.
