Air pollution is taking a heavy toll on both people and economies across the world. It is linked to respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular diseases, strokes, and even cancer. Treating these illnesses burdens public health systems and increases individual healthcare costs.
In countries with limited medical resources, high pollution levels exacerbate system overload, particularly in urban areas.
And millions of premature deaths each year are attributed to air pollution, translating into lost future income, decreased workforce size, and reduced consumer spending.
In the farm sector, pollutants like ground-level ozone reduce agricultural productivity by damaging crops, especially staple grains. This threatens food security and raises prices.
Reducing it will require effective, targeted, and integrated policies, according to the World Bank.
Clean air is essential to global health, yet outdoor air pollution claims approximately 5.7mn lives every year. Most of the world’s population breathes air that exceeds safe pollution levels, leading to a silent but deadly crisis.
Air pollution is shortening lives, harming well-being, and affecting economic productivity. The burden is particularly severe in low- and middle- income countries where outdoor air pollution drives alarming rates of premature deaths and economic losses, points out Axel van Trotsenburg, Senior Managing Director at the World Bank.
As urbanisation, economic activity, and population growth accelerate, more people are exposed to dirty air. A World Bank study highlights that air pollution accounts for a loss equivalent to nearly 5% of global GDP, a staggering loss that underscores the urgency of action.
Air pollution knows no borders and often travels across large transnational areas known as “airsheds”. Its sources are diverse — ranging from transportation, industry, and agriculture.
Addressing this challenge requires cross-sector and cross-jurisdictional collaboration, even among entities that traditionally compete for resources, Trotsenburg says. The good news is that improving air quality is both achievable and cost-effective within our lifetime. Because most air pollution originates from human activities, we have the power to control it.
Countries and cities around the world have demonstrated that with the right policies and investments, air quality can improve — offering valuable lessons for others to follow. Good examples of air pollution management already exist in countries and cities around the world.
Mexico City implemented policies and measures to curb air pollution, reducing both pollution levels and the number of people exposed.
In South Asia, regional partnerships in the Indo-Gangetic Plain and Himalayan Foothills region aim to cut pollution exposure across the airshed. In Africa, bio-ethanol cookstoves are being promoted in Rwanda and Kenya. Kyrgyz Republic is taking national-level actions to curb air pollution and create a revolving fund for clean heating.
Meanwhile, financing mechanisms are supporting emission reduction projects in Egypt and Turkiye. To make meaningful progress, the world needs a more ambitious and integrated approach toward air pollution — one that links conventional air quality management with broader policy goals, such as energy security or emission reduction.
Strong governance, reliable air quality data, and commitment from policymakers will be essential in driving change.
A combination of public and private financing will be needed to accelerate access to clean air. Current financing for air pollution measures seems insufficient, particularly in low and low-middle-income countries, where resources are already stretched thin.
Expanding financing instruments, such as green bonds, concessional loans, guarantees, results-based financing, outcome bonds, and blended finance can unlock private-sector investments and position clean air as a viable economic opportunity. Air pollution is one of the greatest health challenges the world faces today, but experts say solutions are within reach.
Every reduction in exposure will yield health and economic benefits. The knowledge, tools and resources exist — what is needed now are commitment at the highest level to champion clean air for all.