Event highlights
1 July 024
A total of 43 representatives from 41 parties to the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution and 26 experts and stakeholders participated in the annual meeting of the Joint Task Force on Health Aspects of Air Pollution.
“The Task Force has an important role to play as a platform to exchange knowledge and information on air quality and health in the pan-European Region,” said Robb Butler, Director of the Division of Communicable Diseases, Environment and Health at WHO/Europe in his opening remarks. “In addition, the mutual link between air quality, climate change and health means that tackling air pollution also supports climate action, bringing benefits for health, and vice versa. In fact, many air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions are frequently from the same sources.”
Within a rich agenda, several Parties shared their experience on advancing air quality policies, standards and action plans, and on the use of air quality information. Updates also covered a wide range of research, policy, technical and risk communication items related to air pollution, climate change and health.
The policy developments and forthcoming events discussed at the meeting included:
- The revised European Union (EU) Ambient Air Quality Directive, aiming to reduce air pollution in the EU and achieve the EU’s zero air pollution vision by 2050: the revised Directive, which has to be adopted by the Council of Europe before entering into force, sets stricter limits for several air pollutants by 2030, requests comparability of air quality indices in the EU and provides access to justice and the right to compensation for citizens.
- The COP29 health agenda: the representative from Azerbaijan, host country for the next Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, shared information on preparations concerning health aspects. The Conference will take place in Baku, Azerbaijan, on 11–22 November 2024.
- Plans for the WHO Second Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health in 2025: Conference outcomes will inform the revised WHO air pollution roadmap that will be presented at the World Health Assembly in 2025. A series of Science and Policy Snapshots, developed for the Conference, will provide background information for Member States. The Joint Task Force on Health Aspects of Air Pollution will feature in the regional snapshot for the European Region.
- The application of behavioural and cultural insights (BCI) in the context of air quality and health: the BCI approach helps develop effective health policies, services and communication that target health behaviours.
The Task Force will convene for its next annual meeting in May 2025.
Event notice
Air pollution is one of the main risk factors for noncommunicable diseases. In the WHO European Region, tackling air pollution is a regional priority to improve health. Reducing the emissions of certain pollutants has also double benefits for health, since it helps to mitigate climate change.
At its annual meeting, the Joint Convention/WHO Task Force on the Health Aspects of Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution will gather representatives from Parties to the Convention, experts and stakeholders for sharing information and updates.
As recognized in the Declaration of the Seventh Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health, the Task Force will play an important role in supporting the implementation of Conference commitments on air quality, climate change and health, by providing a platform to exchange knowledge and information.
The agenda covers international policies and processes for air quality and health, WHO tools for health risk assessment of air pollution (AirQ+ and CLIMAQ-H), progress in research on air quality and health, and relevant experiences in Member States. Other agenda items will address air pollution, climate change and health, and communicating on air quality and health.
Presentations will include updates on the ongoing revision of the European Union Directive on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe, information about the Second Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health in 2025 and the contribution of the Task Force to the regional Science and Policy Snapshots, and the use of behavioural and cultural insights for environment and health. Participants will also review current activities of the Task Force workplan for 2024–2025 and discuss the next steps for implementation.