Air pollution is one of the biggest causes of death globally, accounting for an estimated 18% of total global deaths in 2018 – just under 1 in 5. Being cited by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago as “the greatest external threat to human life expectancy on the planet” it has been compared to the danger of smoking, and is more dangerous than alcohol or unsafe water. The drivers behind the global air pollution crisis are also the drivers of climate change, and having this understanding that the climate crisis is a health crisis is key to developing integrated policy approaches. Urgent policy actions at every level are needed to prevent the risks of air pollution to human health, especially within exposed and vulnerable communities. Yet policy actions to date are siloed within each sector and often fail to place human health and health equity in the center.

This report – commissioned by the Clean Air Fund and produced by Forum for the Future in partnership with iovoli pharmaceutical consulting - calls for more integrated environmental and health policy mechanisms that prevent and reduce outdoor air polluting emissions.

Read the executive summary

Explore case studies

Download the full report

Webinar: Across Sector Policy Action on Air Pollution

Join us for a virtual discussion on how different sectors can work together to tackle air pollution in our communities.

This webinar is a great opportunity to connect with people from the life science or buildings, constructions and development sectors, and NGOs and philanthropies who work on tackling air pollution.

At this engaging online event we will share the findings from this report and dive deeper into our policy recommendations for life science companies, construction companies and NGOs and philanthropies working on air pollution. We will also explore case studies that bring to life approaches to tackle outdoor air pollution in the life sciences and construction sectors.

Register now