News 3 June 2026
City leaders launched a call to action at the World Urban Forum (WUF13) recognising clean air as one of the core principles of modern urban planning. With nearly 70% of the global population projected to live in cities by 2050, this moment of global leadership marks a critical step in positioning clean air as a core pillar of urban development, rather than treating it as a separate issue.
The Baku Call for Breathable Cities was adopted at a high-level forum bringing together governments, UN agencies, international organisations and partners, including Clean Air Fund. We are proud to have supported and shaped the call to action, which promotes closer cooperation across urban planning, transport, housing policy, green infrastructure and public health. Air quality will also be permanently added as a recurring topic on the agenda of future World Urban Forums.
Designing cities that work for everyone
The call to action frames air pollution as a defining urban issue, one that disproportionately affects children, older people, and low-income communities. Unequal exposure to polluted air is driven by housing conditions, proximity to pollution sources, and limited access to green space. By embedding air quality considerations into planning decisions, cities can reduce exposure and support healthier outcomes across communities.
Cities already have the tools to improve air quality through planning decisions—from how we design streets to how we shape neighbourhoods. Many are already implementing these solutions for their residents. This call to action helps bring that momentum together and sets a clear direction for how cities can scale action globally.
Cecilia Vaca Jones, Executive Director of Breathe Cities
Aligning local action with global progress
The Baku Call builds on a wider shift in global leadership, where cities are increasingly shaping the clean air agenda. At the 2024 Urban 20 (U20) Summit, mayors from major G20 cities formally recognised the role of cities in tackling air pollution and called on national governments to strengthen support for urban action.
Clean Air Fund will continue making the case for clean air action aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and WHO’s target to halve the health impacts of air pollution by 2040.
As cities grow in size and population, we’re going to see increases in air pollution and more pressure on public health systems, especially where they are already stretched. This brand-new call to action sets out what needs to happen to improve people’s access to safe, clean air in urban areas.
Jane Burston OBE, CEO of Clean Air Fund
These commitments reflect a broader pattern of city-led progress. Through global coalitions, such as the Breathe Cities initiative and the C40 Clean Air Accelerator, cities are implementing solutions locally that are shaping the global framework for action.
