October 30, 2018

WHO is standing up to air pollution

located:	Switzerland
editor:	Shira Jeczmien

Today, October 30, marks the World Health Organisations’s (WHO) first global Conference on Air Pollution and Health, held at WHO headquarters in Geneva. The event is being held in collaboration with a host of global environmental and health protection bodies and agencies, including the Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (CCAC), the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the UN Environment.

This landmark event comes just days after WHO published a report that outlines the current grim reality of air pollution around the world and its dire consequences on our health. As it stands, 91 percent of the world’s population inhabit areas where the air pollution is above the recognised WHO limits – among these figures, 300 million people live in areas where toxic fumes are not higher than the recommended limits but six times above international guidelines. According to the report, air pollution is currently killing 7 million people each year and drastically deteriorating the health of billions. We need to act now to beat air pollution.

In a statement, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO’s director general, said that “No one, rich or poor, can escape air pollution. It is a silent public health emergency.” Continuing to poignantly add that “The world has turned the corner on tobacco. Now it must do the same for the ‘new tobacco’ – the toxic air that billions breathe every day”. As well as the grave cost of lives, the effects of air pollution are costing the world economy a monumental sum. According to a World Bank report, medical aid to those suffering from air pollution-related health conditions and the consequent rise of death numbers comes to $5 trillion a year in global funds.

What this crucial international conference sets out to achieve is a united global community – including nations and relevant bodies in the field – who is set to tackle the looming and already palpable issue of air pollution. It is in our best interest, both financially and on a humanitarian level to address the ominous consequences of our reckless energy habits, our destruction of the planet and with that, our direct responsibility towards those who are suffering from this. We have the technology and we have the insights to shift this reality around; it is simply a matter of will, correct allocation of budgets, education and a global community that is willing to admit and address the problem.  

It's not just air pollution that is plaguing the planet, find out what pollutes the ocean here!