The Issue

Air Pollution at a Glance

The Issue

Air pollution isn’t just a little haze in the distance. Air pollution outdoors and inside our homes claims about 7 million lives each year.

It impacts our health through long-term exposure and causes near-term climate change, threatening the lives of future generations.

Health Impacts

We may not always see it, but air pollution is the silent cause of some of our most common illnesses.

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Climate Impacts

Methane is up to 80 times more powerful than carbon dioxide in terms of its warming effects on our planet. It forms the smog we see in our cities, causing respiratory illness and harming crops. Black carbon contributes significantly to global warming in the near-term, with regional and local climate impacts.

Who It Affects

Over 80% of cities exceed WHO guidelines for safe air.

Nearly everyone is impacted by air pollution, especially the most vulnerable with 9 out of 10 deaths from air pollution occurring in low- and middle-income countries.

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Air Pollution in your city

The WHO, UN Environment and CCAC are building a global database of air pollution data and its impacts on our health.