Accelerate actions to promote the use of clean air and clean energy and mitigate climate change

The Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization, Shao Luo, said that protecting human health and saving lives are the central tasks of the World Meteorological Organization. The universal early warning project mainly promoted by the World Meteorological Organization ensures that all people under the coverage of this system can receive early warnings in the event of weather and climate disasters. The World Meteorological Organization is currently promoting the construction of early warning and consultation functions for sandstorms and wildfires, as well as the development of atmospheric component detection capabilities to track cross-border pollution and support research and policy-making on public health.

Climate investment needs to be strengthened. The World Meteorological Organization believes that addressing the relationship among air pollution, public health and climate action is of crucial significance. Especially, many pollutants that directly cause diseases are themselves greenhouse gases. Dealing with the threats posed by such pollutants requires coordinated policies among countries and actions in multiple fields. To assist countries in better carrying out relevant policy-making work, the World Meteorological Organization releases publications on greenhouse gases, air quality and climate hazards every year. The World Health Organization points out that air pollution is part of a series of global challenges that are closely related to health. The burning of fossil fuels in the transportation, energy and industrial sectors, the lack of clean and sustainable energy in households and medical institutions, poor agricultural emissions or waste management, and unsustainable land use planning have all led to severe air pollution, exacerbated the climate emergency, and thereby caused poor people’s health conditions. This is a social, environmental, economic and health crisis. Reducing air pollutants can directly improve people’s short-term and long-term health conditions. Policy actions aimed at protecting public health and well-being by addressing air pollution have also had a positive impact on the environment, economic prosperity, job creation, children’s well-being and gender equality, leaving a lasting legacy for various countries and cities.

There is huge space for international cooperation. The World Health Organization points out that improving air quality is conducive to preventing premature deaths, enhancing health, promoting sustainable economic development and mitigating climate change. Air pollution is a collective problem that knows no national boundaries. To address this issue, it is necessary to carry out scientific legislation, policy formulation and plan implementation, and adopt innovative financing mechanisms and delivery models. International and regional cooperation is crucial for ensuring clean global air, which helps save millions of lives and reduce global warming.

There are abundant successful practical cases. The World Health Organization believes that the successful practices of achieving public health outcomes through climate and environmental actions are rich and have certain reference significance. For instance, Ontario, Canada, has shifted from coal-fired power plants to renewable energy, significantly improving public health conditions, enhancing the resilience of the health system, and creating new economic opportunities for communities that were previously shrouded in smog. The public transportation system in Medellin, Colombia has been improved. The fuel is cleaner, the air is fresher, traffic congestion has decreased, traffic accidents have decreased, and at the same time, public Spaces have been utilized and the health of the population has also improved. Medical institutions in Somalia have switched to solar energy, making a leap forward in achieving universal health coverage, enhancing emergency preparedness, and while improving air quality in local communities, minimizing the environmental footprint of the health sector. In Kenya, smart meter technology has enhanced the affordability of clean cooking, improving health conditions by reducing household air pollution, lowering the risk of burns or injuries from collecting firewood, and saving time on production activities and education.