As the relationship between air pollution, preexisting health conditions, and the deadly impacts of the Coronavirus are revealed, tackling air pollution should become a crucial part of the pandemic recovery. But without a complete picture of air pollution precursors, sources and the disproportionate impacts to poor communities and communities of color, government officials run the risk of locking in policies that will continue to put people at risk. Join leading air pollution experts for a discussion on key air pollution reduction strategies that will help ensure a healthy and green recovery to the COVID-19 pandemic. This seminar is the third of a three-part series of WRI Greening Governance seminars exploring air pollution challenges and strategies for creating a multipollutant approach to airshed governance.

1. Greening Governance Seminar Series:
A Return to Normal is Not Enough: The Hidden
Impacts of Air Pollution, Inequality and COVID-19
July 27, 2020
Speaker Presentations

2. COVID19 & Indoor Air
Pollution
Ajay Nagpure, PhD
Head, Air Quality and Sustainable Urbanization
World Resources Institute
Visiting Faculty
School of Planning and Architecture Delhi

4. 0
200000
400000
600000
800000
1000000
1200000
1400000
1600000
1800000
Dietaryrisks
Highsystolic
bloodpressure
Airpollution
Tobacco
Highfasting
plasmaglucose
Childandmaternal
malnutrition
Unsafewater,sanitation,
andhandwashing
HighLDL
cholesterol
Alcoholuse
Highbody-
massindex
Impaired
kidneyfunction
Otherenvironmental
risks
Occupational
risks
Lowphysical
activity
Lowbone
mineraldensity
Unsafesex
Druguse
Intimatepartner
violence
Childhood
maltreatment
PrematureMortalities
Premature Mortalities associated different risk factors in India
Why it is important to understand the air pollution?

5. Indoor Air Pollution
According to the recent National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO)
survey, in India, 87% of urban and 48% of the rural population uses LPG
as the primary fuel. And, 9% of urban and 50% of rural India use
polluting fuels, i.e., firewood, crop-residue, cow-dung, and kerosene as
primary cooking fuel. It is important to note, analysis based on the
data provided by NSSO says that out of total primary LPG users, 42% of
urban users and 92% of rural users still use polluting fuels as secondary
fuel for cooking or water heating.

8. Urban Rural Total

14. Clean Air Fund and YouGov
Air Pollution and COVID-19 Survey Results
Jane Burston
Executive Director, Clean Air Fund

15. We officially launched in September 2019 during the
UN Climate Summit – as the only non-governmental
organization to be launched by the Secretary
General of UN with support from the Children’s
Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), the IKEA
Foundation, Bernard Van Leer Foundation, Guy’s and
St. Thomas’ Charity and FIA Foundation.
The Clean Air Fund is a coalition of like minded funders interested in
climate change, children and health.
ABOUT US
15

16. CLEAN AIR FUND
/ YOUGOV
SURVEY

17. Clean Air Fund YouGov Air Pollution and COVID-19 Survey
Results
17
CLEAN AIR FUND COMMISSIONED YOUGOV TO
CONDUCT A SURVEY IN OUR CORE GEOGRAPHIES
▪ To understand levels of awareness and concern about air pollution
▪ To understand perceptions of the relationship between air pollution
and COVID-19
▪ To provide data and evidence to the field in developing policy
responses and messaging in response to the pandemic
▪ To allow compassions across our geographies
▪ To provide a base-line for future surveys

18. Clean Air Fund YouGov Air Pollution and COVID-19 Survey Results 18
WE SURVEYED REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLES ACROSS
THE UK, INDIA, BULGARIA, POLAND AND NIGERIA
Country India Poland Nigeria Great Britain Bulgaria
Sample Size 1008 1005 501 1670 1006
Fieldwork 22-28 May 22 May-1 June 22-28 May 27-28 May 22 May-2 June
Weighted
Sample 1008 1005 501 1670 1006

19. Clean Air Fund YouGov Air Pollution and COVID-19 Survey
Results
19
MOST PEOPLE HAVE NOTICED AN IMPROVEMENT IN
AIR QUALITY SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Air quality is much better Air quality is slightly better I haven’t noticed any difference Air quality is slightly worse Air quality is much worse
Percentageofrespondents(%)
Changes in air quality since the COVID-19 outbreak, as personally noticed by respondents in each country
India Poland Nigeria Great Britain Bulgaria

20. Clean Air Fund YouGov Air Pollution and COVID-19 Survey Results
THERE ARE HIGH LEVELS OF CONCERN ABOUT
AIR POLLUTION AS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE
20
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
India Poland Nigeria Great Britain Bulgaria
Percentageofrespondents(%)
Percentage of respondents in each country who say they are "very", "somewhat", or "not at all" worried
about air pollution as a public health issue
Very worried Somewhat worried Not at all worried

21. AIR POLLUTION IS AFFECTING THE GENERAL
HEALTH OF INDIVIDUALS
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
India Poland Nigeria Great Britain Bulgaria
Percentageofrespondents(%)
Percentage of respondents in each country that recognise air pollution affects their
general health "a great deal" or "a fair amount" compared to "not at all" or "not very
much"
Total "a great deal and a fair amount" Total "not at all and not very much"

22. Clean Air Fund YouGov Air Pollution and COVID-19 Survey
Results
22
AIR POLLUTION WORSENS THE HEALTH IMPACTS
OF COVID-19
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
India Poland Nigeria Great Britain Bulgaria
Percentageofrespondents(%)
Percentage of respondents in each country that believe living in a high-pollution area makes it harder for an
individual to recover from COVID-19, more likely an individual will catch COVID-19, and harder for an individual to
recover from COVID-19
Living in a high-pollution area makes it more likely an individual will
catch COVID-19
Living in a high-pollution area makes it more likely an individual will be
severely ill from COVID-19
Living in a high-pollution area makes it harder for an individual to
recover from COVID-19

23. Clean Air Fund YouGov Air Pollution and COVID-19 Survey
Results
23
MOST PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN
IMPROVEMENT IN LOCAL AIR QUALITY
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Should be improved a lot Should be improved a fair amount Should be improved a little Shouldn’t be improved at all
Percentageofrespondents(%)
How much respondents in each country think the air quality in their local area should be improved
India Poland Nigeria Great Britain Bulgaria

24. THE MAJORITY OF RESPONDENTS SUPPORT STRICTER LAWS
AND/OR ENFORCEMENT OF REGULATIONS ON AIR QUALITY
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
India Poland Nigeria Great Britain Bulgaria
Percentageofrespondents((%)
Percentage of respondents in each country who support stricter laws and/or enforcement of regulations on air
quality

25. TOP FIVE MEASURES TO LIMIT AIR POLLUTION
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
India Poland Nigeria Great Britain Bulgaria
Percentageofrespondents(%)
Support for measures to limit air pollution when the Coronavirus outbreak comes to an
end, in each country
Stricter laws and/or enforcement of
regulations on air quality
More ‘clean air zones’ in cities (e.g. where
the most polluting vehicles are charged
more)
Improved public transport services
(including greater service frequency)
assuming effective and proportionate
infection control measures are in place
Incentives to help people/businesses use
cleaner forms of transport (e.g. cleaner
vehicles, public transport, walking and
cycling)
Incentives to help people use cleaner
fuels in their home for cooking and
heating

26. Clean Air Fund YouGov Air Pollution and COVID-19 Survey
Results
26
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ARE THE MOST
TRUSTED SPOKESPEOPLE ON AIR QUALITY
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
The government The media Health professionals Non-governmental
organisations (NGOs)
Celebrities Academics
Percentageofrespondents(%)
Level of trust (%) respondents have for different entities when it comes to communicating news or
updates about air quality, relative to each country
India Poland Nigeria Great Britain Bulgaria

27. OPPORTUNITIES
AT THIS
MOMENT IN
TIME

28. Clean Air Fund YouGov Air Pollution and COVID-19 Survey
Results
28
THE CASE FOR MORE ACTION ON AIR
POLLUTION AT THIS MOMENT IS STRONG
▪ There is growing public demand for clean air
▪ Economic stimulus packages can provide the budget to achieve clean air
▪ Prioritising clean air as we build back will pay for itself, many times over

29. Clean Air Fund YouGov Air Pollution and COVID-19 Survey
Results
29
RECOMMENDATIONS: FIVE THINGS EVERY
GOVERNMENT SHOULD DO
1. Develop and resource joint national health and environment
strategies, with a specific focus on tackling air pollution.
2. Only provide an economic stimulus to industries which make
ambitious and measurable commitments to clearing the air.
3. Support the repurposing of city streets for walking and cycling.
4. Implement and enforce laws and regulations to retain and build on
the improvements in air quality experienced during the pandemic.
5. Work with other governments to tackle transboundary pollution.

30. 40 Conduit Street London W1S
2FT
info@cleanairfund.or
g
www.cleanairfund.or
g
@cleanairfun
d

31. Air pollution, health, COVID 19:
Key considerations for a green & healthy
path forward
Dr. Ananya Roy
Senior Health Scientist
Environmental Defense Fund

32. • 5 million premature
deaths per year
• More than AIDS,
tuberculosis and
malaria combined
Air pollution is one of the largest environmental risks

34. What we’re doing
EDF is driving targeted clean air action
by shining a light on air quality at a
scale and scope never seen before to:
• Pinpoint pollution hotspots
• Clear the air people breathe
• Inspire action worldwide

35. Not every one breathes the same air: Oakland, CA
Black carbon (BC)
What we found:
Levels of air
pollution can
vary by up to
eight times
across
neighborhoods

36. Health data combined with pollution maps show impacts
Living in areas with the most elevated levels increases
heart attack risk in the elderly by 40 percent
Healthcare cost

37. Using data to guide action

38. Our approach
Key strategies:
• Prove it is possible to cost-
effectively map local air pollution
sources and health impacts
• Ensure taking action to reduce air
pollution is a political win
• Scale best practices for using new
sensing technologies to tailor
clean air solutions
Key strategies:
• Prove it is possible to cost-
effectively map local air pollution
sources and health impacts
• Ensure taking action to reduce air
pollution is a political win
• Scale best practices for using new
sensing technologies to tailor
clean air solutions
Houston

39. Deaths
ALIEF 93
SHARPSTOWN 83
ELDRIDGE / WEST OAKS 66
CENTRAL SOUTHWEST 58
MID WEST 56
ALIEF
SHARPSTOWN
ELDRIDGE / WEST
OAKS
CENTRAL
SOUTHWEST
MID WEST
HOUSTON
PECAN
PARK
Fine particle pollution results in more than 5,000 premature
deaths in Houston

40. Traffic related air pollution affects vulnerable
populations and amplifies disparities
Areas with high air pollution & poorer health:
~6 X higher air pollution mortality risk than
the average in the area.
1 in 5 new childhood asthma
cases on average. Up to half of all
childhood asthma cases.
NO2 attributable mortality risk
Prepublication. Do not cite.

41. Key considerations for a green and healthy
path forward
1. Air pollution regulations need to stay on
track
2. Equity needs to be a key principle for
decision making
• Reducing air pollution health disparities has to be a
goal
• Communities as equal stakeholders
3. Decisions need to be based on the best
available science
4. Air pollution health impacts and policy
benefits can help build support for action

42. Thank you

43. July 23 2020
WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE
WEBINAR
A Return to Normal is
Not Enough: The
Hidden Impacts of Air
Pollution, Inequality
and COVID-19
Leonora Rojas-Bracho

44. AN OLD AND AN EMERGING PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM
• Hypothesis:
• Chronic exposure to PM2.5 affects the respiratory and cardiovascular
systems, which can exacerbate the severity of COVID-19 related
symptoms and may increase the risk of death in COVID-19 patients.

45. EXPOSURE TO AIR
POLLUTION AND COVID-
19 MORTALITY IN THE
UNITED STATES
• An increase in PM2.5 chronic exposure of 1 µg/m3
is associated with a 15% increase in COVID-19
mortality rate.
Ecological study
•Adjusted for SES, race, smoking,
BMI, population size,
temperature, hospital beds…
Wu X., et al., 2020

46. AQ
IMPROVEMENTS
1990
25 years
later
“The most polluted city in the world.”
[WHO, 1990]

47. OZONE AND
FINE PARTICLES
OZONE
- SEASONAL 1-HOUR DAILY MAXIMUM
• 1990 160 ppb
• 2017 76 ppb
FINE PARTICLES
- ANNUAL AVERAGE
• 1990 36 µg/m3
• 2017 23 µg/m3

48. MAIN POLICIES
• FUELS
• Environmental fuel quality
• Pb phase out
• S reduction in gasolina and diesel
• VEHICLES
• Catalytic converters
• INDUSTRY
• Cleaner fuels
• Fuel oil to Natural Gas
• Emission controls and inspection
• PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
• Control technologies
• Subway expansion & Bus Rapid Transit Lanes
• PROGRAMS
• PICCA & ProAire
• I/M & Day w/out a Car

49. RECENT POLICY
ROLL-BACKS
TULA POWER PLANT
AND
FUEL & HEAVY-DUTY
EMISSIONS STANDARDS

50. LET’S MOVE
ON…
• Active Mobility
• Public Transportation
• Community Activism

51. ¡GRACIAS!
ROJASBRACHO.LEONORA@GMAIL.COM