From Commitments to Action: Accelerating Global Clean Air Ambition After UNEA-7

by Climate and Clean and Air Coalition Secretariat (CCAC) - 9 December, 2025

Air pollution remains one of the world’s most pressing — yet solvable — public health and environmental crises. At an official UNEA-7 associated event co-hosted by UNEP and the Climate & Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), governments, regional bodies, and technical partners came together to take stock of global progress under UNEA Resolution 6/10 on Air Pollution and to chart the next phase of accelerated action.

The session highlighted concrete national successes, emerging regional cooperation models, and the growing role of platforms such as the Air Quality Management Exchange (AQMx) and the Global Air Quality Cooperation Network in turning political commitments into real-world results.

A Turning Point for Global Air Quality Action

Momentum on clean air is undeniably building — but so too is the urgency. Opening the session, Sheila Aggarwal-Khan, Director of UNEP’s Industry and Economy Division, reflected on the scale of the challenge and the growing alignment across institutions.

She emphasized the strengthening support from the African Union Commission (AUC), CCAC, Africa Clean Air Programme (ACAP), and WHO, while underlining that the world must now move decisively beyond assessments toward implementation and financing.

This call was strongly echoed by Canada, which framed air pollution as a cross-cutting issue for climate, health, and environmental protection. Canada highlighted tangible progress under UNEA 6/10, including the launch of AQMx, and welcomed the first-ever G20 Ministerial Declaration on Air Quality as a major political milestone.

““The momentum is real — but the scale of the challenge means we must now deliver action at speed and scale. It has been clearly demonstrated by the work of the UN and other organizations… that more is needed and that we need to improve our cooperation both multilaterally and internationally but also regionally and bilaterally.”

— Nicholas Barber, Deputy Director for Environment and Climate Change Canada

Call to action: Countries and partners were urged to deepen cooperation across borders and sectors — and to unlock far greater levels of private-sector financing for air quality solutions.

Stocktaking UNEA 6/10: From Regional Lessons to Continental Leadership

Japan: 25 Years of Regional Cooperation as a Blueprint

Japan offered a powerful long-term perspective, drawing on 25 years of experience under the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET). The message was clear: effective air quality management is built on strong monitoring systems, national data ownership, sustained capacity building, and technology transfer.

Japan also underscored the growing Asia–Africa cooperation, pointing to the 2025 Africa Clean Air Programme event at TICAD in Yokohama, which will connect Japanese experts and companies with African counterparts to accelerate air quality technologies.

Call to action: Long-term regional institutional frameworks — not short pilot projects — are essential for lasting transformation.

Ghana and ACAP: Building Continental Momentum

Ghana showcased how regional coordination can translate into rapid domestic progress. The country highlighted how enhanced monitoring, political leadership, and stronger legal frameworks have accelerated national air quality action — all connected through the Africa Clean Air Programme (ACAP).

On the continental stage, Ghana reported that:

A high-level ACAP roadmap discussion was hosted in Accra with participation from ECOWAS, SADC, and sector ministries
ACAP was further elevated during the Africa Climate Summit in Addis Ababa, reflecting rising political momentum across Africa

“We have been a founding member of the CCAC — that alone demonstrates our commitment to clean air. We have also worked closely with many partners; it is a collaborative relationship and everybody benefits from it.”

— Peter Dery, Director of Environment, MESTI Ghana

Call to action: Regional economic communities and national governments were encouraged to align air quality more systematically with climate, health, and development agendas under ACAP.

Chile: Proof That Clean Air Progress Is Achievable

Chile delivered one of the most compelling evidence-based success stories of the session: a 40% reduction in PM₂.₅ levels over the last decade, achieved through legally binding measures, integrated cross-sector coordination, and major investments in monitoring.

Chile also highlighted strong regional political leadership through the adoption of a Regional Air Quality Action Planby Latin American and Caribbean Ministers of Environment in Lima (2024), creating a shared pathway for collective implementation.

“Chile has promoted a shift from isolated measures to more integrated programs — for instance to improve indoor air quality, better insulate houses, and deploy cleaner heating technologies and renewable energy. Chile has comprehensive air quality monitoring, strengthened by tighter standards and alignment with WHO guidelines.”

— María Mesonero Kromand, Ministry of Environment, Chile

Call to action: Chile’s experience shows that measurable air quality gains are possible when legal mandates, financing, and monitoring are aligned — a model ripe for replication globally.

Scaling What Works: From Pilots to Transformation

Despite encouraging progress, speakers were clear: air pollution remains a global health emergency, with the heaviest burden falling on Africa and Asia. The challenge now is moving from isolated pilots to large-scale, systemic implementation.

Amanda Curry-Brown, Coordinator of the CCAC Clean Air Flagships, highlighted persistent global gaps:

Transboundary air pollution
Weak or fragmented data systems
Capacity constraints in high-impact sectors

To address these, CCAC has launched new sector-specific guidance under AQMx, offering practical tools for:

Agriculture residue burning
Household energy and e-cooking
Transport fuel quality
Waste burning

These resources are designed to support countries in adapting proven solutions and accelerating real-world deployment.

At the same time, speakers stressed that policy success depends on people. WRI Africa illustrated this through Nairobi’s rapid hospital-waste reforms, driven by collaboration between government, civil society, and transport operators. WHOreinforced the need for strong health-driven evidence, including updated indoor air pollution guidelines and new health-benefits frameworks.

Call to action: Data, community engagement, and sustainable financing must advance together — otherwise even strong policies will fail to scale.

From Dialogue to Delivery

Across regions and sectors, one unifying message emerged:

Clean air solutions exist — what’s needed now is the political will, institutional cooperation, and financing to scale them.

Platforms like AQMx, regional frameworks such as ACAP, and success stories from Chile, Ghana, and Japan demonstrate that transformation is not only possible — it is already underway. The task ahead is to ensure that these efforts move faster, reach farther, and deliver healthier air for all.