Nations will more quickly transition to clean energy if they redirect government funds away from subsidizing unhealthy commodities–in particular fossil fuels. Such action would reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, thereby mitigating climate change and saving lives. This brief, coauthored by Vital Strategies and NCD Alliance, calls on countries to reexamine current economic incentives...

Indians want their government to implement policy solutions to improve air quality, but new research suggests that misperceptions drive their demand toward solutions that have limited impact on air pollution. “Through the Smokescreen,” a report by global health organization Vital Strategies, reveals poor public understanding of the major sources of air pollution and priority clean air solutions in...

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution levels in Jakarta exceed the World Health Organization’s health-based air quality guidelines by four to five times, causing significant economic and social impacts—including illness, premature death, health care costs, and the loss of productivity associated with illness and caregiving.Toward Clean Air Jakarta highlights the current state of air quality in...

Indonesia has the highest number of premature deaths associated with air pollution in Southeast Asia. In the capital city of Jakarta, the levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), the pollutant most hazardous to health, routinely exceed that of the World Health Organization’s air quality guidelines by four to five times. Obtaining information on the leading sources of pollution, will help identif...

Indonesia has the highest number of premature deaths associated with air pollution in Southeast Asia. In the capital city of Jakarta, the levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), the pollutant most hazardous to health, routinely exceed that of the World Health Organization’s air quality guidelines by four to five times. Obtaining information on the leading sources of pollution, will help identif...

This policy brief, from the Collaborative Clean Air Policy Centre, is a series of short commentaries from experts in atmospheric science and public health on the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on communicating risks linked to air pollution in India. The series includes lessons offered by the lockdown-linked improvements on air quality management in India, syntheses of current evidence on li...

Stunting is an important risk factor for early growth and health implications throughout the life course, yet until recently, studies have rarely focused on populations exposed to high levels of particulate matter pollution or on developing countries most vulnerable to stunting and its associated health and developmental impacts. We systematically searched for epidemiologic studies published up to...

Air pollution is both manageable and preventable, yet it remains largely neglected, negatively impacting the health and well-being of the population. It is estimated that, each year, about 6.7 million people die from the impacts of air pollution, the fourth leading cause of premature deaths globally.In Brazilian cities, home to more than 85% of the population, there is great potential to reduce em...

Unhealthy environments have been linked to a range of significant health risks to children, including premature birth, stillbirth, increased lifelong risk for brain and behavioral problems, respiratory disorders, cardiovascular disease, cancers, dysfunction of hormonal and reproductive systems, and more. Globally, more than 1 in 4 childhood deaths under 5 years of age are attributable to unhealthy...

More than 90% of the world breathes polluted air. Yet, many cities lack ground monitoring data needed to track air pollutants that impact public health.For countries with limited monitoring capacity, there is no one solution for air quality management. Instead, a hybrid approach that combines conventional solutions with innovative approaches at different scales is more cost effective. One approach...