Recommendation No. 18 establishes a structured framework for the training, qualification, examination, and certification of vehicle inspectors. It requires inspection organizations to implement documented training programs aligned with national legislation, corporate quality objectives, and international standards such as ISO/IEC 17020 and Directive 2014/45/EU.The recommendation defines minimum ed...

Air quality problems in Asian cities are increasingly caused or exacerbated by emissions from the growing number of motor vehicles. Appropriate vehicle emissions standards for new and in-use vehicles and a well-designed and operated inspection and maintenance (I/M) program are important elements of an overall strategy to reduce vehicle emissions and air pollution.As part of its Regional Technical ...

This Solutions Book, A Breath of Change, sets out a practical roadmap for achieving the region’s shared, intermediate target of reducing annual average PM2.5 concentrations below 35 µg/m³ by 2035 (“35 by 35”), while laying the foundation for progressively cleaner air. Building on the diagnostics and country experiences synthesized in Striving for Clean Air (2023), the solutions book moves from why...

Air pollution across the Indo-Gangetic Plains and Himalayan Foothills (IGP-HF) has reached critical levels, threatening health and productivity for nearly one billion people. The impacts are severe: cardiovascular and respiratory diseases have become leading causes of illness and death, average life expectancy in the IGP-HF region is shortened by more than three years, and around one million peopl...

This document summarizes current knowledge on the links between solid waste and human health, focusing on municipal solid waste. It covers definitions of waste types, management practices and trends, and examines associated hazards, exposure pathways, and affected populations. The document reviews available epidemiological evidence and highlights research gaps. It underscores the need for sustaina...

Agricultural air pollution is a significant but often under-recognized source of health and economic burdens worldwide. Beyond its impact on human health, emissions from agriculture also harm crops, reduce yields, damage ecosystems, and decrease biodiversity. While urban areas are commonly associated with poor air quality, rural and agricultural regions also experience high levels of pollutants, p...

Why this handbook? Institutional e-cooking - using efficient electric appliances such as electric pressure cookers (EPCs), boilers, and induction stoves - is fast becoming a practical and affordable alternative to biomass cooking in schools, health facilities, and community institutions across Africa.This handbook was developed to help governments, schools, technology providers, and developme...

The report provides the first comprehensive scientific assessment of air quality in Termez to support evidence-based policymaking and air quality management. It is based on a detailed analysis of hourly monitoring data from the automatic air quality station located in central Termez (covering the period from May 2023 to December 2024), meteorological observations, satellite retrievals, and local e...

Delhi can improve its PM2.5 concentrations, but it will take at least 10 to 15 years of systematic implementation of a series of interventions, spanning all the sectors, at regional scale. The necessary effort to reach 40 ug/m3 in 2040 is substantial, requiring changes like those seen during the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, in all the anthropogenic sectors. In addition to the year-round sources...

The Surat Clean Air Action Plan (SCAP) was prepared by World Resources Institute India (WRI-India) in collaboration with Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) and the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB), and supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies and Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation (SSEF).The source apportionment study, prepared by TERI, identified air pollution sources in Surat, resulting in t...