BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 20. Fighting air
pollution isn’t just a cost, but a significant investment for
health, the environment and the economy, Program Manager for
Habitat and Climate Mitigation at the World Health Organization
(WHO) Regional Office for Europe, Dorota Jarosinska, said at an
event “Breathing Life into the New Urban Agenda: Integrating Air
Quality and Green Infrastructure for Resilient Cities” within the
framework of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in
Baku, Trend
reports.
She noted that air pollution causes about 700,000 premature
deaths in 53 countries in the European region every year, and most
of these deaths are related to non-communicable diseases.
“We can measure effects such as cardiovascular disease, stroke,
respiratory problems, but the list is much longer. We are also
learning more and more about effects such as neurodegenerative
diseases, dementia, and metabolic disorders,” she stressed.
Jarosinska pointed out that sometimes people have difficulty
understanding the real effects because the numbers are very
big.
“Sometimes these numbers paralyze us, but we must not forget
that inaction on air pollution is a matter of life and death,” she
explained.
She added that reducing air pollution brings not only
environmental, but also social and economic benefits.
“It’s not just a cost, it’s an investment. Improving air quality
reduces health costs, increases work productivity, and provides
multiple benefits to society,” Jarosinska said.
The WHO official noted that air pollution is part of a global
triple crisis, along with climate change and biodiversity loss.
“The same sources also create climate change. Therefore,
reducing air pollution and combating climate change must go hand in
hand,” she stressed.
Jarosinska highlighted that cities play a key role in this
process.
“Cities are places where changes are directly visible and felt.
Therefore, it’s important to involve communities in the process,”
she added.
Today marks the fourth day of WUF13 in Baku.
The first day included a ministerial meeting dedicated to the
New Urban Agenda, a ministerial roundtable, assemblies for women
and civil society, business sessions, and discussions on urban
prosperity. An official ceremony marking the raising of the UN and
Azerbaijani flags also took place.
The second day stood out for the inaugural Leaders’ Summit,
featuring high-level discussions on the global housing crisis,
urbanization policy, and urban resilience. Concurrently, the
opening of the Mexico City pavilion took place, serving as a
significant platform for expanding cooperation with the Latin
American region and preparing for WUF14.
The third day of WUF13 featured a comprehensive program of
events covering the global housing crisis, the formation of safe
and inclusive cities, climate resilience, artificial intelligence
and urban governance, green urbanization, social equity, and
sustainable transport.
WUF13, which has attracted more than 40,000 registered
participants from 182 countries, will continue until May 22. Held
under the theme “Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and
communities,” the forum brings together governments, international
organizations, experts, and representatives of civil society to
strengthen global cooperation in the field of sustainable urban
development.
