2nd WHO Air Pollution & Health Conference: Multi – Dimensional Clean Air Actions

2nd WHO Air Pollution & Health Conference

2nd WHO Air Pollution & Health Conference

I. Core Focus and Basic Conference Information

At the 2nd WHO Air Pollution & Health Conference (linked to CCAC collaborative initiatives), Day 1 centered on laying the groundwork for scientific assessment and policy frameworks. Subsequent agendas (Day 2 and beyond) delved into multi – dimensional practical approaches—spanning multi – sector collaboration to cross – border governance. This comprehensive exploration aimed to unlock air pollution prevention, control, and health protection solutions.

II. Multi – Sector Collaboration: The Core Action Path of the Conference

(I) Plenary Session: Dissecting Multi – Dimensional Topics

On Day 2 of the 2nd WHO Air Pollution & Health Conference, the plenary session commenced—focusing on four core themes critical to the conference’s mission:

 

  1. Analysis of air pollution sources impacting human health (e.g., industrial emissions, biomass burning)
  2. The logic behind policy design and implementation by governments at all levels in pollution control
  3. Effective strategies for intra – governmental and inter – governmental cooperation
  4. How tools and data can facilitate the efficient implementation of policies

(II) CCAC and Multi – Sector Actions: The Clean Air Flagship Program

Martina Otto, Head of the CCAC Secretariat, explained during the 2nd WHO Air Pollution & Health Conference: Leveraging scientific assessment results, CCAC emphasizes the synergistic relationship between climate and clean air. To this end, they launched the 2024–2026 Clean Air Flagship Program, featuring:

 

  1. Developing the AQMx Air Quality Management Communication Platform to enhance air quality management personnel capacity – building
  2. Initiating the Clean Air Africa Initiative to drive regional cross – border pollution control cooperation
  3. Focusing on policy implementation in key emission sectors (agriculture, waste management, brick kilns, heavy vehicles, engines)

III. Breaking Through Key Issues: Science – Policy Synergy in Black Carbon Reduction

(I) Black Carbon Governance: Science – Policy Synergy

In the special topics of the 2nd WHO Air Pollution & Health Conference, the scientific release session integrated pivotal studies:

 

  1. The World Health Organization systematically reviewed black carbon’s health impacts, confirming threats to glacier melting and respiratory diseases
  2. Data from Professor Zhu Tong (Peking University): Black carbon emissions in China, North America, and Europe have decreased due to household energy transformation—while rising in other regions
  3. During policy dialogue, the Clean Air Fund identified three priority areas: cryosphere protection, energy transition, and super pollutant coordinated control

(II) Solid Waste Management: Health Risks and Solutions

Sandra Cavalleri, CCAC Center Coordinator, chaired a parallel session at the 2nd WHO Air Pollution & Health Conference. The focus was on open – air garbage incineration’s health impacts on vulnerable groups (children, women, etc.):

 

  1. Of the 200 million tons of global urban solid waste generated annually, 40% is openly incinerated and 30% landfilled—becoming a super pollutant source (methane, black carbon)
  2. South African Medical Research Council research: Garbage incineration links to respiratory diseases and cognitive impairments. Low – income countries can overcome these via the circular economy model (recycling 70% of usable waste) and economic incentives (food – for – garbage exchanges, deposit refunds)
  3. Cases from Indonesia, Uganda, etc.: Multi – dimensional policy interventions (source separation, landfill supervision, incineration ban enforcement) reduce pollution hazards

(III) Cross – Border Collaboration: Conventions and Regional Practices

The Convention on Long – Range Transboundary Air Pollution working group hosted a session at the 2nd WHO Air Pollution & Health Conference. It analyzed the convention’s evolution—from acid deposition control to health – coordinated prevention and control:

 

  1. Key success elements: solid scientific foundation, unified data, partner trust, and capacity building
  2. Experiences from Japan, Chile, etc.: Intra – national inter – departmental coordination + cross – border policy alignment to promote “synchronous capacity building and policy formulation”
  3. United Nations Environment Programme emphasis: While unifying national standards is challenging, cross – border pollution characteristics demand dual – track promotion (unilateral actions + multilateral cooperation)