CCAC at WHO Second Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health – 24 March 2026

Following a successful 2025 Climate and Clean Air Conference in Brasilia, Brazil, the CCAC is building on the momentum of last week’s discussions by participating in the World Health Organization’s Second Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health in Cartagena, Colombia. Throughout the week, the CCAC will take part in multiple panel discussions and side events that highlight the connection between super pollutants, air quality, and health, while highlighting CCAC initiatives already underway to help tackle dangerous air pollution.  

The Africa Clean Air Programme: Moving into in-country initiatives  

There was a full program of pre-conference events on Monday, including a CCAC-organized panel spotlighting the Africa Clean Air Programme (ACAP). ACAP will serve as a vital platform for regional cooperation, advancing Africa’s response to the intertwined challenges of air pollution and climate change, and further supports the goals of Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want, Africa’s blueprint and masterplan for transforming the continent into the global powerhouse of the future.  

The session kicked off with opening remarks from the Head of the CCAC Secretariat, Martina Otto, The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Madagascar, H.E. Rasata Rafaravavitafika, and the African Union’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment, H.E. Moses Vilakati, highlighting the importance of a “by Africa, for Africa” approach to air pollution.  

On the session’s panel, Kenza Khomsi from the CCAC Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) spoke about the importance of regional cooperation in helping to standardize approaches and build capacity in local and national governments. Khomsi noted that lack of data was a challenge and that ACAP could play an important role in connecting the dots between scientific knowledge and political will.

Kevin Hicks of the Stockholm Environment Institute reviewed the history of successful regional agreements in Africa and the lessons that could be taken from those. Kevin reiterated the importance of an evidence-driven policy. He also highlighted the power of partnerships and sharing experiences across the region.

Tolullah Oni of Cambridge University and founder of Urban Better spoke of the rapid population growth on the continent, noting that many of the planned infrastructure investments had not yet been made creating an opportunity for more sustainable development. Oni spoke of the barriers to action on air pollution and the need to “make the invisible visible” through data collection, transparent public communication and sharing approaches on how to address common challenges.

David Foster of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office discussed the benefits of regional collaboration in maximizing efficiency and attracting donor support. David particularly highlighted the critical need for evidence-based policymaking and political will for local leadership of initiatives.  

The session closed with a message from Ghana Environmental Protection Agency Director Peter Dery, highlighting Ghana’s commitment to ACAP as a champion country and inviting all partners to the ACAP meeting in Accra in May.

To learn more about ACAP, listen to Selelah Okoth, Senior Principal Environment Office, NEMA, Kenya 

Quotes from ACAP session

H.E. Rasata Rafaravavitafika: “Africa is suffering from the severe impacts of air pollution, which is a transboundary issue that requires collective action. The urgency of addressing air pollution and its effects on health cannot be overstated. However, the solutions lie in collaboration across borders, sectors, and governments. By working together, Africa can effectively combat air pollution and its devastating consequences, ensuring a healthier and more sustainable future for all.”

Kenza Khomsi: “Our challenge is to bridge the gap between research and policy. While Africa has valuable data, it’s not always effectively linked to policy processes. We need to strengthen these connections to drive real action. For this, integrated frameworks that consider air pollution and climate change together are essential. We must work across sectors, harmonize standards, and promote policies that address these issues holistically.  

Peter Justice Dery: "There is an urgent need for a collaborative, multi-sectoral approach to addressing air pollution in Africa, recognizing it as a public health crisis that crosses borders. Ghana is committed to improving air quality through integrated policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and expanding clean energy access.”  

Launching UNEP’s Global Air Quality Coordination Network  

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Also on Monday, several CCAC partners participated in the first meeting of UNEP’s Global Air Quality Coordination Network, which was established under UNEA resolution 6/10 to strengthen international collaboration on air pollution. The session highlighted the CCAC’s Air Quality Management Exchange (AQMx) as a key resource for the Global Network. The Platform was referenced several times during the session as an important tool for supporting air quality management capacity, and the session emphasized the importance of building up existing networks and initiatives rather than duplicating efforts. The event also highlighted the work of the CCAC sector hubs and Clean Air Flagship Task Team.

CCAC partners participated in two panel discussions as part of the meeting, with the first being moderated by the Head of the CCAC Secretariat, Martina Otto, focused on countries’ challenges and needs and how these might be supported through the Global Network. The second panel was moderated by Beatriz Cardenas Gonzalez, Air Quality Global Director, WRI and sought to identify best practices from regional networks and how those regional networks might most productively engage with the Global Network.  

Several key themes emerged from the discussion, with many mirroring those discussed during the ACAP session earlier in the day. These included the importance of evidence driven policy, the need for cooperation and information sharing, the need for action at the local, national, regional and global levels, and the opportunities to learn from the work of others facing similar challenges.

Action on Tropospheric Ozone: A Blueprint for 2025-2028 - Advisory Group Workshop

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On the margins of the WHO conference, the Clean Air Fund and Clean Air Institute- together with the Clean Air Task Force, and Hill—convened an advisory working group to develop a blueprint for addressing tropospheric ozone through coordinated research, policy, and implementation efforts from 2025 to 2028. This initiative builds on the momentum of The Case for Action on Tropospheric Ozone launched at COP29 and aims to foster international consensus and collaboration. The session followed the Science-Policy Dialogue on Tropospheric Ozone at the Climate and Clean Air Conference 2025, where experts emphasized the significant health risks of ozone exposure, including respiratory and emerging metabolic disorders, as well as its damaging effects on agriculture and food security. A key outcome was the urgent call to translate scientific insights into concrete policy measures and action in the agriculture, transport and waste sectors. 

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How governments should cut air pollution – from a doctor

Yuri Carvajal, a board member of the Global Climate and Health Alliance and President of the Environment Department of The Medical College of Chile emphasizes the urgent need for governments to tackle air pollution as a public health crisis. In this opinion piece for Context, they calls for stronger regulations, investment in clean energy, better public transport, and cross-sector collaboration highlighting the direct link between air pollution and rising respiratory illnesses, especially among children, and urges leaders to treat clean air as a fundamental right.

Click here to read the op-ed.