Academies stress need for global action on harmful air pollution

Leipzig, 19.06.2019

calling for a new global compact to improve collaboration on the growing problem of harmful air pollution

 

New York. The National Academies of Sciences and Medicine from South Africa, Brazil, Germany, and the United States of America are calling for a new global compact to improve collaboration on the growing problem of harmful air pollution, and for governments, businesses and citizens to reduce air pollution in all countries.

Experts from the Leibniz Association in Germany were also involved in the report, which was handed over at the UN headquarters on Wednesday evening: Prof. Dr. med. Jean Krutmann and Dr. rer. san. Tamara Schikowski from the Leibniz Institute for Environmental Medicine Research (IUF) in Düsseldorf and Prof. Dr. Alfred Wiedensohler from the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS) in Leipzig.

 

Read more at the Leopoldina:

Academies stress need for global action on harmful air pollution
https://www.leopoldina.org/en/press-1/news/statement-air-pollution-and-health/

 

Science-Policy Initiative on Air Pollution and Health:

https://air-pollution.health/

 

 

Five national academies call for global action against air pollution. Photo: Tilo Arnhold, TROPOS

In their statement, the five National Academies recommend immediate action at all levels of society. These include global emission reductions and adequate monitoring of the most important pollutants - especially PM2.5. These particulate matter particles are among the smallest in the air we breathe. They can enter all organs of the body and damage them in this way.