Ambient air quality monitoring, modelling and forecasting

Air quality monitoring, modelling and forecasting is an essential element of the global effort to assess and develop appropriate policy responses to reduce the immense damage to human health caused by air pollution.

Air pollution is high on the global agenda, as reflected in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which include three indicators – related to energy access in the homes, air quality in cities and mortality from air pollution – for which the World Health Organization (WHO) is custodial agency.

In May 2018, WHO released information that revealed the alarming toll of air pollution: 7 million deaths caused by exposure to ambient and household air pollution each year. It noted that over 90% of the world’s population lived in areas where air pollution exceeds WHO limits.