First WHO Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health, 30 October – 1 November 2018

First WHO Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health - Conference summary report: CLEAN AIR FOR HEALTH: Geneva Action Agenda

Geneva, 1^st November 2018 - At the conclusion of the first WHO Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health, participants agreed an aspirational goal of reducing the number of deaths from air pollution by two thirds by 2030. Leaders from national and city governments, intergovernmental organizations, civil society, philanthropy, research and academia considered the scientific evidence on air pollution and health and emphasized the urgent need for bold and prompt action to address this health crisis.

• Clean air for health: Geneva action agenda
• Note for the media
• Director-General closing address 1 November 2018

Air pollution is "the new tobacco...” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s Director-General

The first two days of the conference presented evidence, identified gaps and solutions, and was targeted at practitioners and other technical and political representatives from the health sector and other sectors relevant to the discourse. The third day was a High-Level Action Day.

• Conference programme
  pdf, 505kb

• Live webcast (active from 30 October 2018)
• Conference overview agenda
  pdf, 205kb

Healthy People – Healthy Planet

A special BreatheLife concert held on 31 October, featured Grammy® Winner and "United Nations Humanitarian Artist" Ricky Kej. This free, public concert event will expand awareness in the Geneva international community about air pollution as a critical health, climate and environment issue through music, video and art. Known for his signature – "Music for the Planet", Ricky Kej and his ensemble of musicians from countries as diverse as Ghana, India, Peru, Viet Nam, South Africa, and the USA played compositions of ‘World Music for Healthy People and Planet’.

Air pollution causes 1 in 9 deaths worldwide

The Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health, 30 October – 1 November 2018 was the first-ever global event to focus on both air pollution and health.

Participants included ministers of health and environment and other national government representatives; representatives of intergovernmental agencies, health professionals, other sectors (e.g. transport, energy, etc.), as well as from research, academia and civil society.

The conference also advanced collaborations between WHO and sister UN agencies.

• Read more about the conference
  pdf, 614kb

Conference aims and outcomes

The conference recognized the need for an aspirational goal of reducing the 7 million deaths a year due to air pollution by 2030, as a contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Countries, urban mayors, and civil society were invited to make commitments to the global advocacy campaign BreatheLife2030 to meet WHO's Air Quality Guidelines and reduce climate emissions.

The conference underlined the links between air pollution and the global epidemic of NCDs and positioned the health sector to catalyse actions for health-wise policies on clean household energy, transport, and waste.

Conference objectives

The first two days of the conference presented evidence, identified gaps and solutions, and was targeted at practitioners and other technical and political representatives from the health sector and other sectors relevant to the discourse. The third day was a High-Level Action Day which focused on the following objectives: plan of action; health systems engagement; commitments

• Review the conference objectives

Conference sessions and activities

Conference sessions covered themes such as:

Science and evidence, including the latest on health effects, forecasting and monitoring, and extreme events

Methods and tools for informed decisions – estimating health impacts and planning interventions in sectors like transport, energy and waste, as developed by the Urban Health Initiative

Strategies and solutions being adopted by countries and cities to improve air quality at urban and household level

Cross-sector collaborations between health, environment and development sectors to reduce air pollution and mitigate climate change

Partnerships and advocacy with countries and cities, UN partners, development agencies, research, university and civil society.

• More about air pollution and health