Report on the World Health Organization’s Initiative to Combat Air Pollution and Advance Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Introduction

Air pollution represents one of the most significant environmental risks to public health, contributing to millions of premature deaths annually. This crisis disproportionately affects vulnerable groups, including children and individuals with noncommunicable diseases. The challenges are compounded by energy poverty and the escalating effects of climate change. In response, the World Health Organization (WHO) is launching Phase 2 of its Science and Policy Summaries (SPS) initiative. This program is designed to provide decision-makers with accessible, evidence-based resources to formulate policies that protect public health, promote clean environments, and directly support the achievement of multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

2.0 Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The SPS initiative is fundamentally aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, providing a critical framework for science-informed policymaking. The program’s focus on air pollution, energy access, and climate change directly contributes to the following SDGs:

• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): By generating evidence to mitigate the health burden of air pollution, particularly concerning noncommunicable diseases and child health.
• SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): By supporting solutions that address energy poverty and promote the transition to cleaner energy sources for all.
• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): By equipping policymakers with tools to improve urban air quality and create healthier living environments.
• SDG 13 (Climate Action): By providing data and strategies that support climate mitigation and the development of climate-resilient health systems.
• SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): The initiative embodies this goal through its multistakeholder development process, which includes WHO Advisory Groups (SAG and GAPH-TAG), WHO Collaborating Centres, UN agencies, academia, and civil society.

3.0 Phase 2 Initiative Focus

Phase 2 of the SPS initiative concentrates specifically on the health and economic impacts of air pollution. A significant emphasis is placed on quantifying the burden on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and child health, providing targeted evidence to protect these vulnerable populations. The summaries are developed through a robust, collaborative consultation process, ensuring a comprehensive and scientifically rigorous foundation for policy development.

4.0 Launch Event Objectives

To introduce the second phase of this critical initiative, the WHO is hosting a series of launch webinars. The primary objectives of these events are to:

• Present the specific focus and key findings of the SPS Phase 2 summaries.
• Showcase firsthand experiences of air pollution’s impact on communities and health systems.
• Facilitate a dynamic dialogue among health sector experts to explore actionable solutions for improving air quality, ensuring clean energy access, and advancing climate mitigation.
• Encourage the adoption and utilization of the SPS by health ministries, government agencies, and other key stakeholders to foster science-based policy development.

5.0 Launch Event Agenda

1. Opening Remarks
   World Health Organization (WHO)
2. Opening Testimonial
   Lisa Nahgon, 18, Cameroon
3. Introduction to SPS Phase 2
   Sophie Gumy, Technical Officer, Air Quality, Energy and Health, WHO
4. Deep Dive on Exposure and Health Effects
   Zorana Jovanovic Andersen, Professor of Environmental Epidemiology, University of Copenhagen & WHO GAPH-TAG Member
   Jason West, Professor, Department Of Environmental Sciences And Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health & WHO GAPH-TAG Member
5. Conversation: Protecting Health Through Cleaner Air and Climate Resilience
   Horacio Riojas-Rodriguez, Director, National Institute of Public Health, Mexico
   Representative, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Iran
   Moderated by: Sophie Gumy, Technical Officer, Air Quality, Energy and Health, WHO
6. Questions & Answers from the Audience
7. Closing Remarks
   Heather Adair-Rohani, Unit Head a.i., Air Quality, Energy and Health, WHO

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article’s central theme is the health impact of environmental factors. It explicitly states that “Air pollution continues to be one of the largest environmental risks to health, contributing to millions of deaths each year,” and focuses on the “burden on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) or child health.”
• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: The article directly mentions “Energy poverty” as a factor that compounds health threats and highlights the need for “solutions for… clean energy.” This connects the lack of access to clean energy with negative health outcomes.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The focus on “air pollution” as a major environmental risk is directly related to the quality of life in urban and rural environments. The article aims to support solutions for “clean air,” a key component of sustainable communities. The mention of a WHO working group on “sdg-11-6-2” further solidifies this connection.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The article identifies the “worsening effects of climate change” as a major threat. It promotes the development of “climate-resilient health systems” and solutions for “climate mitigation,” linking climate action directly to public health protection.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article describes the development of the Science and Policy Summaries (SPS) as a “multistakeholder consultation process.” This process involves collaboration between WHO, UN agencies, academia, and civil society to achieve common goals, which is the essence of SDG 17.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 3.4: Reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases. The article directly addresses this by stating that Phase 2 of the SPS emphasizes the “burden on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs)” caused by air pollution.
• Target 3.9: Substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination. The article’s core focus is on reducing the “millions of deaths each year” attributed to air pollution, especially among “vulnerable groups such as children.”
• Target 7.1: Ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services. The mention of “Energy poverty” as a compounding health threat implies the need to achieve this target to mitigate related health risks.
• Target 11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality. The article’s objective to “support solutions for clean air” directly aligns with this target of improving urban air quality.
• Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards. The article calls for the creation of “climate-resilient health systems,” which is a direct application of this target to the health sector.
• Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development. The article exemplifies this target by describing the SPS development process, which involves a “multistakeholder consultation process” that brings together “experts from WHO Advisory Groups,” “UN agencies,” “academia and civil society” to share knowledge.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Implied Indicator for Target 3.9: Mortality rate attributed to air pollution. The article’s statement that air pollution contributes to “millions of deaths each year” implies that tracking this mortality rate is a key measure of the problem’s scale and any progress in addressing it.
• Implied Indicator for Target 3.4: Reduction in premature deaths from NCDs linked to environmental factors. The focus on the “burden on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs)” suggests that measuring the incidence and mortality of these diseases due to air pollution is a relevant indicator.
• Implied Indicator for Target 11.6: Air quality levels in human settlements. The goal of achieving “clean air” implies the measurement of air pollutants. The article’s link to the “Scientific Advisory Group on Air Pollution and Health (SAG)” and the “sdg-11-6-2-working-group” points directly to Indicator 11.6.2, which is the “annual mean concentration of fine particulate matter (e.g. PM2.5) in cities.”
• Implied Indicator for Target 13.1: Development and implementation of policies for climate-resilient health systems. The article’s objective to “facilitate a dynamic dialogue among health sector experts, exploring actionable solutions for… climate-resilient health systems” suggests that the adoption of such solutions and policies is a key measure of progress.
• Implied Indicator for Target 17.16: The existence and effectiveness of multi-stakeholder partnerships. The article describes the collaborative structure for developing the SPS, involving WHO, UN agencies, and other experts. The successful creation and “uptake of SPS by health ministries” serves as an indicator of this partnership’s effectiveness.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: who.int