WHO revises air quality guidelines for first time since 2005

The World Health Organisation yesterday revised its air quality guidelines for the first time since 2005. According to WHO, through tightened guidelines, it hopes to spur countries toward clean energy and prevent deaths and illness caused by air pollution. The new recommendations particularly target pollutants including particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide, both of which are found in fossil fuel emissions.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that air pollution kills at least seven million people prematurely



each year. He added that even at very low levels, research has shown “air pollution affects all parts of the body, from the brain to a growing baby in a mother’s womb.

The body hopes the revisions encourage their 194 member countries toward actions that slash fossil fuel emissions, which are also driving climate change. Globally, countries are under pressure to pledge bold emissions-cutting plans ahead of the U.N. climate conference in November in Glasgow, Scotland.