WHO Says Air Pollution Claims 7m Lives Annually
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says it’s working out strategies to better combat air pollution and its effect on health currently causing over seven million deaths the world over, annually.
The organization, on its website where this was contained on Saturday, also said it would hold a conference on air pollution and health, in response to a World Health Assembly mandate to combat air pollution, one of the world’s most significant causes of premature deaths.
The UN body noted that presently, air pollution in most cities exceeded recommended WHO Air Quality levels, adding that household air pollution was a leading killer in poor rural and urban homes.
According to WHO, one third of deaths from stroke, lung cancer and heart disease is due to air pollution.
“Air pollution also causes one in nine deaths worldwide. And affordable strategies exist to reduce key pollution emissions from the transport, energy, agriculture, waste and housing sectors.
“Health-conscious strategies can reduce climate change and support Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for health, energy and cities.
“The solution to air pollution however, is affordable and clean urban, transport, waste and household energy strategies and the health, environment and development sectors can lead the way to change.’’
WHO said that it would hold the three days conference from October 30 to November 1, in Geneva, Switzerland, with the theme, “Improving Air Quality, Combating Climate Change – Saving Lives.”
It said that the conference would be held in collaboration with UN Environment, World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the Secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Other collaborating organisations are Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (CCAC) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
Source: Leadership News
