Webinar: The foundation of air quality actions

Webinar: The foundation of air quality actions  World Health Organization

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Sep 29, 2023 - 16:30
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Webinar: The foundation of air quality actions

Join the WHO Air Quality, Energy and Health Unit for the webinar “The foundation of air quality actions”

Date: 19 October 2023

Time: 2-3:30pm (CEST)

In 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) sharply reduced the air quality guideline for fine particulate matter, a pollutant associated with SDG 11.6.2 (annual mean levels of PM2.5 in urban areas). Recognizing that action on air quality can enhance capacity for SDG reporting, WHO collaborated with key UN agencies to develop national plans. This collaboration resulted in the creation of an online repository of tools and guidance documents that serve as a primer for air quality management.

The webinar aims to:

  • Launch the Improving the capacity of countries to report on air quality in cities: Users’ guide to the repository of United Nations tools report, which is a primer for air quality management.
  • Highlight step-by-step guidance for building national plans.
  • Showcase national initiatives that integrated UN tools to improve air pollution monitoring and reporting, as well as enhance government officials’ ability to tackle air pollution and protect public health.

This webinar session will be recorded. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Agenda

Chair

Sophie Gumy, Technical Officer, Air Quality and Health Unit, WHO

Welcome remarks and housekeeping

Heather Adair-Rohani, Unit Head a.i., Air Quality and Health Unit, WHO

Opening remarks

Country example of current air quality actions and advances they are making to improve their air quality

TTO Country official (to be confirmed)

Presentation

What does SDG 11.6.2 reporting and air quality actions have in common?

Kerolyn Shairsingh, Consultant, Air Quality and Health Unit, WHO

Panel discussion: How can UN agencies help countries set up or strengthen their air quality actions?

Example of a technical tool or guidance protocol for your relevant air quality expertise that was deployed in a country/region.

Facilitator: Caradee Wright, Chief Specialist Scientist, South African Medical Research Council

Discussants:

  • Soraya Smaoun, UN Environment Programme, Nairobi
  • Carolin Sanz Noriega, UN Economic Commission for Europe, Geneva
  • Sara Basart, World Meteorological Organization, Geneva
  • Pierpaolo Mudu, WHO Europe, Bonn
  • Martin Heger, World Bank, Washington D.C

Q&A session

Facilitator: Caradee Wright, Chief Specialist Scientist, South African Medical Research Council

Closing remarks & next webinar

Sophie Gumy, Technical Officer, Air Quality and Health Unit, WHO

Confirmed Speakers

Sophie Gumy, Technical Officer, WHO

Sophie Gumy is a Technical Officer in the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health at the World Health Organization. She leads WHO’s work on evidence synthesis, capacity-building, and monitoring of ambient air pollution exposure and related disease burden.

Portrait Sophie Gumy

Heather Adair-Rohani, Acting Unit Head Air Quality, Energy and Health, WHO

Heather Adair-Rohani leads the work on air quality, energy, and health at the World Health Organization Headquarters. She has led the establishment of the Health and Energy Platform of Action and the High-level Coalition on Health and Energy. She also actively participates and represents WHO in various global initiatives focused on health, air pollution, and energy.

Kerolyn Shairsingh, Technical Consultant, WHO

Kerolyn Shairsingh is a consultant in the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health at the World Health Organization. She has led the working group on SDG 11.6.2 and supports activities related to exposure assessments and policies/interventions within the Global Air Pollution and Health-Technical Advisory Group.

Caradee Wright, Chief Specialist Scientist, South African Medical Research Council

Caradee Wright is a Chief Specialist Scientist at the South African Medical Research Council. Her research focuses on environmental health in Africa, specifically climate change and air pollution impacts on human health and well-being.

Soraya Smaoun, Air Quality Coordinator, UN Environment Programme

Soraya Smaoun is the Air Quality Coordinator in UN Environment. She provides support to the strategic development of air quality work in UN Environment and develops and supports operational programs on air quality with national and city governments.

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