Integrating air quality and climate change: A policy imperative for human well-being and equity for the G20

Abstract

South Africa has assumed the Presidency of the Group of 20 (G20) of the world’s most significant economies in 2025 with a theme of “Fostering Solidarity, Equity and Sustainable Development.” During this period, the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) has led discussions among the academies of the G20 countries, including the African Union, in a process known as the Science 20 (S20). The theme for the S20 is “Climate Change and Well-being.” The editorial team of the Clean Air Journal has felt it appropriate to draft an editorial in support of this process and to highlight the importance of including air pollution in a material way, as it has a large impact on well-being and equity. Decreasing pollution should be a key tenet in fostering solidarity, equity, and sustainable development. This is particularly true in Africa, where under a business-as-usual scenario, air pollution is estimated to cause 930,000 premature deaths per year in 2030 and is projected to increase to about 1.6 million premature deaths per year in 2063 without increased and dedicated action.