Global commission on healthy indoor air launches at United Nations

A new international initiative was launched in New York during Climate Week to address what experts describe as one of the most overlooked public health issues of our time. The Global Commission on Healthy Indoor Air has been formed to drive action on indoor air quality, bringing together nearly 170 leaders from over 30 countries across health, academia, business and the built environment. The Commission was announced at a United Nations side event and is backed by the International WELL Building Institute. Its members include former United States Surgeon General Dr Richard Carmona, leading scientists and researchers, deans of major universities, as well as executives and sustainability leaders from real estate, technology, and manufacturing. Architecture, engineering and building science are also strongly represented, reflecting the cross-disciplinary nature of the challenge.

Indoor air pollution is linked to more than three million premature deaths each year and contributes to chronic conditions including respiratory disease, cardiovascular problems and cognitive decline. Although people spend around 90 percent of their lives indoors, progress on improving indoor air has lagged far behind advances in outdoor air regulation and other environmental health issues. The new Commission aims to address this imbalance by creating a Global Framework for Action and developing national blueprints to guide governments, businesses and institutions.

Commission leaders argue that solutions already exist, supported by clear scientific evidence and proven technologies. The task ahead lies in building awareness, securing investment and embedding better standards into practice. By working together, the group intends to shape policy, influence decision makers and accelerate innovation while making the economic and social benefits of healthier indoor air more visible.

The launch also coincided with the unveiling of the Global Pledge for Healthy Indoor Air, signed by more than 160 organisations and the governments of France and Montenegro, which recognises clean indoor air as a fundamental human right. The Commission will serve as a complementary effort to translate these commitments into concrete action.

The first meeting of the Commission will be held later this year to set priorities and establish a multi-year agenda. Its Global Framework for Action is expected to be published by the end of 2026, with country-specific blueprints released as they are completed.

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