Blog 10 June 2025
Air pollution is the biggest environmental threat to health worldwide. The World Bank estimates that the health damage caused by air pollution costs $6 trillion a year – that’s a 5% reduction of global GDP.
Action from businesses is crucial to addressing this global problem. Leaders from business, government and civil society have identified pollution as a top 10 short- and long-term risk, highlighting the growing need for companies to start prioritising action on reducing emissions.
By integrating air pollution into broader decarbonisation strategies, businesses can efficiently reduce the impact on climate and health. The Alliance for Clean Air, supported by the World Economic Forum and Clean Air Fund, is a coalition of over 20 multinational companies committed to tackling air pollution in a number of ways: reductions across value chains, integrating air quality into their networks, developing sector-specific solutions and mobilising investment.
Here are five examples of how businesses in the Alliance for Clean Air are taking action:
IKEA: Reducing air pollutant emissions across value chains
Measuring and reporting air pollution emissions is the crucial first step for companies. The Inter IKEA Group have been reporting their air pollutant emissions in their annual climate reports since 2023.
IKEA’s FY30 climate road map aims to halve greenhouse gas emissions across their operations and product lifecycles, remove and store carbon through responsible agriculture and forestry, and drive partnerships and investments for a net-zero society. Their 2025 report quantified the impact of their FY30 climate roadmaps on air pollutant emissions within production, product transport & logistics services. These include a 51% reduction in black carbon (a super pollutant driving global warming) and other air pollutants that have significant impacts on human health. To help other businesses quantify their air pollutant emissions along their value chains, IKEA developed this Practical Business Guide with the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC).
Haleon: Driving health and economic research to support decision-making
Global leader in consumer health, Haleon, has a Clean Breathing Institute that is helping to reduce the impact of air pollution on respiratory health globally. They conduct research on the disease burden, risk factors and effective management of air pollution-induced respiratory illness. They also provide educational resources to healthcare professionals on how to support patients manage their exposure to air pollution, such as a handbook for pharmacists.
Economist Impact’s Health Inclusivity Index, supported by Haleon, analyses the health and economic impacts of measures improving health inclusivity across 40 countries. 240,000 deaths per year and $4.4billion could be saved across 12 countries in Latin America and Africa if countries meet WHO air pollution guidelines, with the biggest benefits in lower-income communities.
Maersk: Leading on sector-specific innovation and collaboration
At any given time, over 6,500 vessels are idling at anchorages worldwide, emitting more than 30 million tons of CO₂ and harmful air pollutants. With many anchorage zones located near densely populated areas, these emissions can have a significant impact on residents’ health.
Stillstrom by Maersk – a cleantech owned by A.P. Moller Maersk – is addressing this challenge by enabling offshore power supply for vessels at anchor. Since 2022, Stillstrom has partnered with global wind farm developers, vessel owners, ports and maritime authorities to assess the feasibility of deploying offshore power and charging infrastructure powered by clean electricity.
By powering vessels offshore, less fossil fuels are consumed to keep vessels running, resulting in lower emissions. With shipping demands expected to increase by 2.4% annually until 2029, Maersk is continuously driving investment in progressive solutions to tackle climate and health challenges from vessel emissions.
GEA Group: Getting shareholder buy-in
Air pollution presents significant financial and systemic risks to businesses and economies. By engaging shareholders on climate and air quality, corporations can create a robust foundation for sustainable investment in the short- and long-term, whilst promoting transparent governance procedures.
In 2024, GEA Group was the first company on the DAX Index to obtain a shareholder resolution on its Climate Transition Plan 2040, aiming to become net zero across Scopes 1, 2 and 3. The approval had a 98.4% majority. Since greenhouse gases and air pollutants often come from the same sources, GEA Group is committed to raising the profile of air quality as part of this plan, and has incorporated air pollution emissions in its annual sustainability reports.
GSK: Uniting businesses to commit to clean air
Global pharmaceutical company GSK is a founding signatory of the Camden Breathe Better Charter – developed in partnership with Reckitt and Bupa as part of the Sustainable Markets Initiative – aiming to reduce the health impacts of air pollution in the London Borough of Camden. The charter is a cross-sector collaboration across businesses and other organisations to protect employees’ and residents’ health, while accelerating businesses’ decarbonisation agendas.
Measures will include improving energy efficiency in buildings, increasing renewable usage and transitioning to zero-emission vehicles. Businesses will also support employees to minimise and manage their air pollution exposure, including through sustainable commuting, and respiratory health support and education.
What can your business do?
In a resource-constrained context, businesses are starting to realise the impact of addressing air pollution to reduce negative climate and health outcomes. To find out more about corporation action on air quality and how to partner with us, visit our website.