Rohit Shishodia
The World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed that some seven million people die of air pollution every year in the world. The UN body also informed that up to one-third of the deaths from stroke, lung cancer and heart diseases are due to air pollution.

The WHO said that household air pollution is a leading killer in poor rural and urban homes. Air pollution in most cities exceeds recommended WHO Air Quality levels.

To combat air pollution and prepare a strategy, the WHO is going to organize the first three day Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health in Geneva from October 30 to November 1, 2018.

The conference will be in collaboration with UN Environment, World Meteorological Organization, the Secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.

Health and environment ministers from different countries, health professionals and from other sectors such as energy, transport, research, academia and civil society will participate in the conference.