Improving International Cooperation on Air Quality for Health, Climate, and Development

Stockholm+50 Affiliated Event

This event brings together high-level participants, policy makers, philanthropists, scientists and activists, to discuss the need for increased international and regional cooperation to stop air pollution. Air pollution is the largest environmental threat to human health and is fuelling the climate crisis. In the last 50 years there have been victories in air pollution mitigation in some countries, but much of the developing world, vulnerable populations in developed countries and fragile (agro-) ecosystems still suffer from its impacts. Over the next 50 years, we must move to a zero emissions future to achieve sustainable economic development through integrated air quality and climate solutions.

The event will highlight the need to strengthen regional agreements to improve air quality as a first step towards a global agreement to reduce air pollution. It will:

• Share views on best available science and practice on regional air quality governance,
• Discuss how action in linked agreements such as the Global Methane Pledge can reduce air pollution
• Showcase the impact air pollution has on vulnerable populations
• Highlight how global and regional cooperation is necessary to address the transboundary air pollution crises and its detrimental effects on sustainable development.
• Organizers: Germany, Ghana, USA, UN Environment Programme, Climate and Clean Air Coalition

Relevant S+50 Leadership Dialogue: (3) Accelerating the implementation of the environmental dimension of Sustainable Development in the context of the Decade of Action

Agenda

Opening (5 minutes)

• Andrea Hinwood, Chief Scientist, UN Environment Programme

Keynote (10 minutes)

• Rosamund Kissi-Debrah, mother and air pollution activist, Champion for the UN Global BreatheLife campaign

Moderated Panel Discussion: Together we can: Strengthening regional air quality agreements for people and planet (45 mins)

Moderator: Martina Otto, Head of Secretariat, Climate and Clean Air Coalition

• Dr. Claudia Hiepe, Interim Head of Division Environment, Biodiversity, Forests, Ocean (Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development)
• Andrew Clark, Chief for Chemicals, Air Quality, and Waste, U.S. Department of State
• Emmanuel Appoh, Acting Director responsible for Environmental Quality, Environmental Protection Agency, Ghana and Co-chair of the WHO Urban Health Initiative
• Marcelo Mena, Head of the Methane Hub and former Minister of Environment of Chile
• Johan L. Kuylenstierna, Research Leader, Stockholm Environment Institute