Interinstitutional work and cooperation across sectors are crucial to effectively address air pollution, particularly when addressing its local, urban, regional, national and transnational characteristics. Investments and policies supporting cleaner household energy, transport and power generation, as well as energy-efficient housing, health-care facilities and municipal waste management can reduce key sources of air pollution. Industrial and building construction activities can also constitute significant sources of air pollution. Air pollution is emitted from a wide range of sources and can travel in the atmosphere for hundreds of kilometers, crossing political and administrative boundaries.

Therefore, actions to reduce health risks from air pollution must consider all those sources and geographical scales. Proper identification of the contribution of various sources to population exposure under local conditions and various pollution reduction scenarios is key to effective policy formulation. Dedicated interventions not only would improve health, but they would also reduce climate pollutants, serve as a catalyst for local economic development and the promotion of healthy urban lifestyles and sustainable settlements. In order to assist in the implementation of these interventions, WHO provides technical support on best practices to reduce air pollution and implement mitigation strategies.