6 million
premature deaths per year are due to poor air quality1
9 in 10
people worldwide live in areas of high-particle pollution2
37
cities committed to set ambitious reduction targets and take action on air pollution
About this sector
Air pollution contributes to over 6 million premature deaths each year, and nearly 500,000 infant deaths in their first month of life are attributable to air pollution. 9 in 10 people reside in areas that exceed World Health Organization Guidelines for fine particulate matter pollution.
Cities know that because public health and air quality are so interconnected, efforts to reduce urban air pollution and improve the wellbeing of their residents must go hand-in-hand. C40’s work on air quality aims to give cities the tools they need to address both issues simultaneously.
The C40 Air Quality team supports cities by providing technical assistance, facilitating workshops and collaborating to create and implement global solutions.
Some examples of high-impact air quality measures include:
- Expanding adequate air quality city-wide monitoring
- Implementing policies and programmes to reduce local air pollution sources, such as residential, transport, or industrial emissions
- Developing and implementing a plan to meet World Health Organization (WHO) Air Quality Guidelines
High Impact Declarations
Resources
Sources
- In 2019, air pollution ranked 4th among major mortality risk factors globally, accounting for nearly 6.75 million early deaths. Source: State of Global Air 2020.
- World Health Organization, May 2018.