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.
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Strategies

There are multiple strategies for reducing exposure to ambient air pollution. Fundamental information that should orient interventions is related to knowing the sources of air pollution. The interventions are usually available to reduce air pollution focus on developing sustainable transport in cities; implementing solid waste management; providing access to clean household fuels and technologies; developing a market for renewables energies and energy efficiency, and implementing industrial emissions reductions. Strategies to reduce air pollution share some general recommendations, valid in all countries, and some specific areas of interventions that are context-specific. 

General recommendations include: 

  • Promote country actions to strengthen air quality management and knowledge on the different sources of air pollution.  
  • Facilitate access to information on the health effects of air pollution and methods for reducing the exposure.
  • Encourage technological innovation to decrease emissions from stationary sources and conventional vehicles, and promote the use of clean fuels. 
  • Implement control mechanisms (e.g. emission inspections). 
  • Conduct health impact assessments to determine the magnitude of the burden of air pollution on health and the potential benefits on health associated with changes in air pollution.
  • Support the public health sector for a strong action across sectors and develop plans at regional, urban and rural levels.   

Specific recommendations depend on the situation of the transport system, the presence of industrial activities, the way agriculture activities are carried out, the location of a region or a city, and several other factors. For example, specific recommendations can be done on: 

  • on transportation systems that have to provide an alternative to cars and diesel buses, considering rail, electric or alternative fuel-powered buses, and cycling or walking networks.
  • On integrating environmental and health considerations in regional and urban planning, including locating activities in areas convenient for pedestrians and bicyclists in order to reduce the need for motorized transport, preventing traffic congestion, creating green areas, separating pedestrians and bicyclists from road traffic and locating non-residential functions around urban highways. 

Inform the public of effective pollution reduction activities and associated health benefits.