News 3 October 2024
Check out the latest news articles, research, opinions and efforts to tackle air pollution around the world.
AQMx: New global air quality management platform
Climate & Clean Air Coalition and the UN Environment Programme launched AQMx – an Air Quality Management Exchange Platform to increase regional cooperation and action on improving air quality globally. The platform provides a one-stop-shop to support city and national air quality practitioners to meet WHO Air Quality Guidelines and interim targets. The platform follows recommendations from a 2022 needs assessment report showing that a lack of technical capacity and other knowledge on air quality management is the greatest challenge facing air quality managers (behind a lack of funding), particularly in Africa, Latin America and Asia.
RCPCH calls for tougher action to protect children’s health
They Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) has called for tougher government action to curb air pollution and protect children’s health in the UK. Recommendations include phasing wood burners out of urban family homes, monitoring air quality around schools, and giving councils new powers to act when pollution exceeds safe limits.
Accelerating country-led air quality reporting
The global Our Common Air commission is calling for a system to track air pollution that combines existing and new data techniques in ways that bridge the gaps in global air quality information. A new paper gives recommendations to solve this issue, including creating a combined global target for partticulate matter pollution (PM2.5) reductions, integration of air pollution into countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and more.
WHO report on EU deaths related to commercial products and practices
In a new report on Commercial Determinants of Noncommunicable Diseases in the WHO European Region, 5% of all deaths related to commercial products and practices were attributed to fossil fuels (ozone pollution and particulate matter pollution).
UK Foreign Secretary’s first speech highlights air pollution
Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, David Lammy highlighted air pollution as a global challenge in his Kew speech on the climate crisis.
Resources for EU cities on clean air or low-emission zones
The Institute for European Environmental Policy produced a report investigating the social considerations around LEZs, drawing on the experiences of five European cities. The report sets out ten recommendations for European policymakers implementing LEZs.
OpenAQ Inc launched its Air Quality Index Hub
Despite many countries using an Air Quality Index to measure air pollution, there is little consistency across these tools globally. To help people navigate and make sense of air quality indices around the world, OpenAQ Inc has launched an Air Quality Index Hub.
New York Climate Week: addressing pollution
Clean Air Fund CEO Jane Burston spoke on a panel during New York Climate Week at the World Economic Forum’s Sustainable Development Impact Meeting – Addressing Pollution: Step Zero? A recording of the meeting is available here.
Jaime Pumarejo talks Breathe Cities on the WEF podcast
Cities have a vital role to play in tackling air pollution and climate change. Catch Jaime Pumarejo, Executive Director for Breathe Cities in conversation with Robin Pomeroy about the initiative on World Economic Forum’s latest podcast.
New air quality viewer for Europe
The European Environment Agency has launched a city air viewer so people can check the air quality in their city over the past two years, and compare it with others across Europe.
Air quality in Denmark’s four largest cities improves
The Copenhagen Post reported in the last year, following the introduction of ‘environmental zones’, air quality across Denmark’s four largest cities has improved. The zones enforce a fine for those driving diesel cars without a special particulate filter.