Terms of Reference for the Global Air Pollution and Health

Overview

I. Functions:  

In its capacity as an advisory body to WHO, the TAG shall have the following functions: 

1. To review and further advise WHO on the methodologies and data input to assess population exposures to specific air pollutants (in relation to SDG 7.1.2 and 11.6.2);
2. To review epidemiological data (both health outcomes and exposure response functions) for next update of SDG 3.9.1 (Mortality from air pollution);
3. To advise WHO methodologies on source-specific attribution for burden of disease assessment
4. To support WHO’s activities related to desert dust, such as assessing human exposure to and related health impact, reviewing the evidence on the impact of desert dust on health; and explore further developments on good practices to reduce health impact from sand and dust storms;
5. To review, evaluate and select criteria for cost-effective air pollution and health interventions and policies and provide synthesis and guidance also for the identification of indicators of policy monitoring and what can be agreed good practices and ‘best-buys’.
6. To support WHO’s activities in assessing the health and economic implications (benefits and harms) of climate mitigation policies that also impact ambient and household air pollution, reviewing and synthesizing evidence, and developing guidance and tools to support integrated air pollution and climate policies.  

The TAG will be divided into 4 sub-groups: health impact assessment, desert dust and health, interventions and policy and climate co-benefits.

II. Composition

1. The TAG shall have up to 20 internationally renowned experts as members[1] for each sub-group of the TAG (Expert Working Groups), including the Chairperson, who shall serve in their personal capacities to represent a broad range of research and policy areas relevant to air pollution and health, i.e.: