Transport: sectoral solutions for air pollution and health

The World Health Organization (WHO) publication “Transport – sectoral solutions for air pollution and health” (2025) provides a comprehensive analysis of transport-related air pollution (TRAP) and its impacts on health. The report highlights that globally, transport is a major source of air pollution, contributing around 15% of total greenhouse gas emissions and nearly one-fifth of fine particulate matter emissions. It identifies both exhaust and non-exhaust emissions—such as road dust, brake, and tyre wear—as significant health hazards, with strong evidence linking exposure to cardiovascular disease, asthma, lung cancer, and premature mortality. The document notes that while high-income countries have made progress through stricter air quality regulations and technological advances, many low- and middle-income countries continue to face worsening air pollution due to rapid urbanization, population growth, and insufficient regulatory enforcement. The brief emphasizes that effective reduction of TRAP requires an integrated approach that addresses all sources of emissions, improves fuel quality, and encourages shifts toward public and active transport modes. A global health perspective is presented, underlining the disproportionate burden of exposure faced by marginalized populations living near major roads and in polluted cities. The publication also examines the role of shipping and port logistics, noting that maritime transport contributes to approximately 265,000 premature deaths annually, with emerging mitigation through emission control areas (ECAs). Case studies illustrate successful interventions, including Indonesia’s legal enforcement of citizens’ right to clean air, Beijing’s multipronged vehicle-fuel-road policy, and Canada’s collaborative reduction of sulfur in fuels through multistakeholder engagement. The brief underscores the importance of aligning transport and environmental policies to achieve sustainable urban mobility, particularly in Asian cities where emissions from aging vehicle fleets and imported low-quality fuels remain major challenges. WHO calls for measures that combine emission standards, urban planning, and behavioural shifts—such as congestion charging, speed limits, and expansion of green infrastructure—to reduce traffic density and improve health outcomes. It also highlights the need for targeted actions in low- and middle-income countries, such as phasing out old vehicles, paving dusty roads, and improving fuel quality. Furthermore, the document urges inclusion of black carbon and other short-lived pollutants in national climate commitments to leverage multiple co-benefits. The report concludes that transforming the transport sector demands political will, intersectoral collaboration, and evidence-based policymaking. Effective interventions should combine technological advances with equitable access to public transport and safer, greener urban spaces. By integrating emissions reduction, health protection, and sustainable mobility planning, the transport sector can become a key driver of cleaner air and improved quality of life across regions, with significant implications for the rapidly urbanizing and densely populated subregions of Asia.