Blog 18 December 2025
G20 endorse historic declaration on air quality
For the first time, the G20 recognised the importance of tackling air pollution, endorsing a historic declaration on air quality. This endorsement is a turning point in recognising that clean air is not a standalone issue but a cross-cutting priority for sustainable development. G20 countries represent 80% of global greenhouse gas emissions and are home to nearly two-thirds of the world’s population. Clean Air Fund is proud to have supported the South African G20 Presidency as a knowledge partner on this topic and looks forward to this group of countries continuing to show leadership.
WHO approves global roadmap and target
At the World Health Assembly, member states endorsed a new global roadmap to cut premature deaths attributed to poor air quality by 50% by 2040. While the target is voluntary, many governments have requested expert guidance to develop effective policies across major polluting sectors to reach it, and the WHO has received early commitments from 24 countries.
Countries step up on black carbon emissions
Countries made a first-of-its-kind announcement to tackle major sources of black carbon emissions on the sidelines of COP30 in Belém, Brazil. Governments announced national policies and sectoral action plans, ranging from integrating black carbon into climate strategies to targeted interventions in the electricity, transportation, and oil and gas sectors. Black carbon is one of the super pollutants responsible for half of global warming and premature deaths. This leading group of countries is seizing an opportunity to speed up climate progress, improve people’s health and strengthen local economies.
Tracking industrial polluters
Our partner, Climate TRACE, launched a global tool that tracks major polluters’ emissions. Combining its global inventory of emissions with satellite data, the interactive tool visualises air pollution in over 2,500 urban areas. This is a powerful step forward for air quality transparency, exposing harmful emissions from industrial facilities, while equipping citizens with critical information.
UN recognises air pollution as a driver of NCDs
The UN General Assembly took a bold step by formally recognising air pollution as a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as heart disease, stroke, and cancer. Evidence from the Lancet shows that poor air quality is the largest risk factor for premature death and disease globally. The UN also endorsed a global goal to reduce premature deaths from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by one-third by 2030. Leaders missed the opportunity to commit to the ambitious, yet achievable, target endorsed by the WHO.
National progress in Ghana and the UK
The clean air movement also made breakthroughs at the national level.
- In Ghana, the government passed a new Air Quality Management Regulation, which introduces a legal basis for nationwide air quality monitoring and management. Local authorities have been mandated to develop District Air Quality Management Plans within three years.
- In the UK, the government brought forward its commitment to meet the WHO PM2.5 guideline of 10 µg/m³ to 2030. The target was previously to meet this guideline by 2040. This commitment aligns with the ambition set under the EU’s Ambient Air Quality Directive, and so means that the UK will no longer be lagging behind EU countries in terms of ambient air quality standards.
Looking to 2026
These wins show what’s possible when we unite behind a shared vision. Our focus will be to build on this progress, and in 2026 we want to see:
- Air quality officially recognised as a valuable co-benefit in multilateral and bilateral development donors’ portfolios. We will continue making the case for clean air investments from these institutions, while supporting action to address low- and middle-income governments’ challenges in accessing financing.
- EU member states transposing the groundbreaking Ambient Air Quality Directive into national law. The deadline for doing this is just one year away.
- More integrated climate and clean air action, including embedding black carbon into climate frameworks, and even more countries pledging to reduce black carbon emissions at COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye.
- National governments solidify plans to deliver the WHO’s voluntary target to halve the health impacts of air pollution by 2040, and effective monitoring of progress towards this goal.
