The World Health Organization's (WHO) commitment to addressing air pollution's impact on health is underscored by its role as the custodian agency for air pollution-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through a formal process, WHO collaborates with National Statistic Officers and focal points from Ministries of Health, Energy, and Environment to update and monitor key SDGs related to air pollution and health. This includes SDG3.9.1 on mortality attributed to ambient and household air pollution, SDG7.1.2 on population access to clean fuels and technologies, and SDG11.6.2 on annual mean levels of fine particulate matter. By providing publicly available data, WHO supports regions and countries in tracking progress towards achieving air quality guidelines, especially those with limited data resources.
The webinar series aims to launch and present new data for these SDGs, highlight country involvement in monitoring and reporting, and spotlight long-term trends in air pollution and regional plans to address this burden. It also provides examples of how data can be utilized for policy and decision-making, showcasing national initiatives to improve air pollution and health monitoring and strengthen air quality standards to protect public health.
The AM session featured a lineup of experts, including Heather Adair-Rohani, Bruce Gordon, Sophie Gumy, and Boche Cao, who discussed the importance of tracking change through the SDGs for monitoring progress and how WHO collects health data for Global Health Estimates. Josselyn Mothe emphasized the significance of long-term trends in SDG data for tracking policy impacts. Dr. Norlen Bin Mohamed from Malaysia shared national stories highlighting air quality progress.
The PM session continued with a focus on data and trends, featuring Kerolyn Shairsingh, Juan Castillo, and Eliane Ignotti. These experts discussed the importance of data from the formal SDG framework and how it can be trusted. Boche Cao again presented on WHO's data collection methods for Global Health Estimates, followed by discussions on long-term trends and national stories from various countries.
The webinars underscored the critical role of data and collaboration in addressing air pollution's impact on health. By sharing new data, highlighting country involvement, and showcasing long-term trends, the WHO is providing valuable insights and resources to support global efforts in improving air quality and public health.
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