Air quality, energy and health
The unit provides technical support to WHO’s Member States in the development of normative guidance, tools and provision of authoritative advice on health issues related to air pollution and its sources. The unit leads monitoring and reporting on global trends and changes in health outcomes associated with actions taken to address air pollution at the national, regional and global scales.

Highlights

Health science and policy summaries

Concise overviews of current evidence on air quality, energy access, climate change, and health

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WHO invites governments, agencies and organizations to pledge voluntary actions to reduce the health impacts of air pollution by 50% by 2040.

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Call to action from the health community

Stop polluting the air we breathe – prevent diseases and save lives

A close-up of a thermometer against a blazing orange sky, showing 50°.

Beat the heat

Initiative against extreme heat and related environmental health risks in workplaces and major events

Publications

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Green spaces: sectoral solutions for air pollution and health

Exposure to green spaces is widely associated with health benefits, including mental (e.g. reduced risk of depression and anxiety), physical (e.g. improved...

Understanding the health impacts of sand and dust storms

Sand and dust storms (SDS) result from turbulent winds that raise large quantities of particles from the ground into the air in emission areas. Emission...

Household air pollution and related health impacts

More than a quarter of the global population still cook meals over open fires and/or on simple stoves fuelled by firewood, agricultural waste, dried dung,...

Open waste burning: sectoral solutions for air pollution and health

Reducing open waste burning is essential for achieving clean air, clean energy access, climate change mitigation, and improved health and well-being. Globally,...

Documents

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Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report 2025 finds that almost 92% of the world’s population now has basic access to electricity. Although this...

The Energy Progress Report 2025 finds that almost 92% of the world’s population now has basic access to electricity Although this is an...

Urban Health Directory

The directory is an online repository with more than 200 open access resources and tools updated on a regular basis that provide information on the importance...

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The WHO Air Quality, Energy and Health Science and Policy Summaries (SPS) provide concise overviews of current knowledge and evidence on topics related...

Network and expert groups

SDG 11.6.2 Working Group
This Working Group will explore specific issues related to SDG 11.6.2 indicator reporting, as well as support the development of tools and guidance documents for this indicator.

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