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The document advocates for Amendment 20 to the Environment Bill, which would require the UK to reduce PM2.5 levels to 10 µg/m3 or less by January 1, 2030. It argues that current legal limits are insufficient to protect public health, citing the social cost of air pollution at over £20bn annually and the specific risks to children and those with pre-existing conditions. The briefing asserts that achieving WHO guidelines is technically feasible and necessary for the UK to demonstrate global leadership in air quality, especially ahead of COP26.

The document outlines a comprehensive modeling framework designed to assess the impact of three policy scenarios—the California Advanced Clean Truck (ACT) Rule, the NOx Omnibus Rule, and a '100 x 40 ZEV + Clean Grid' scenario—on the U.S. medium- and heavy-duty (M/HD) vehicle fleet. The framework integrates five analyses: fuel use and emissions, health impacts, economic and jobs effects, utility impacts, and infrastructure gaps. It utilizes tools such as the STate Emission Pathways (STEP) Tool, EPA's MOVES3 and COBRA, and IMPLAN software to quantify changes in greenhouse gases, criteria pollutants (NOx and PM), and macroeconomic metrics like GDP and employment. The report details specific assumptions regarding battery cost trajectories, charging infrastructure requirements, and the social cost of greenhouse gases to ensure a standardized approach for subsequent state-specific reports.

A small number of countries, primarily Turkey, Ukraine, and those in the Western Balkans, are responsible for the majority of coal power air pollution in Europe. Ukraine dominates PM10 emissions, while Turkey leads in NOx pollution. The report highlights that most of the most polluting plants are over 30 years old, though Turkey is an exception with some young plants among the top polluters. Many Energy Community countries failed to meet 2019 emission ceilings, and the report argues that subsidies and rehabilitation costs should instead be redirected toward the region's significant renewable energy potential.

The document analyzes how socio-economic disadvantages drive air pollution and increase vulnerability to its health impacts in Bosnia and Herzegovina, highlighting the specific risks faced by women, the elderly, and Roma communities.

The report examines the challenges of transboundary air pollution in Northeast Asia and compares the region's current cooperation frameworks with the successful models of the UNECE Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) and the USA-Canada Air Quality Agreement. While Northeast Asian countries have implemented strong national measures, regional cooperation remains limited to data sharing and lacks binding emission targets. The authors propose a strategy based on three pillars: building scientific consensus, sharing best practices, and promoting technology cooperation to foster trust and reduce pollutants.

The report analyzes air quality around 270 schools in Bengaluru, finding that PM2.5 levels frequently exceed WHO and US EPA standards, particularly during school departure times and winter months. It links this pollution to increased childhood asthma and respiratory issues, and recommends policy interventions such as restricting heavy traffic around schools and increasing monitoring networks.

The strategic environmental assessment (SEA) concludes that the Transport and Mobility Development Plan 2021-2035 generally supports environmental goals, though its high level of generality creates uncertainty regarding the actual realization of these benefits. The plan aims to reduce the transport sector's environmental footprint by shifting freight from roads to rail and sea, increasing the share of public and active transport to 55% by 2035, and reducing transport CO2e emissions to 1,750 kt by 2035. Key environmental concerns include the potential for increased car use due to road infrastructure improvements and the impact of new infrastructure on biodiversity and the Natura 2000 network. The report recommends a stricter application of the '4-step principle' for infrastructure investment and the definition of clear priorities to ensure environmental goals are not superseded by demands for road convenience.

The document assesses Thailand's air quality regulatory framework, noting that while some pollutants have decreased, national standards remain weaker than WHO guidelines. It identifies a 'siloed approach' to policymaking across different ministries as a primary barrier to enforcement and recommends the establishment of a single, national regulatory body to coordinate multi-sectoral air pollution mitigation.

The report examines how forest fires, driven by both climate change and deliberate land clearing, create poor air quality that severely impacts public health. It highlights specific crises in the Amazon, Australia, and Canada, noting increased hospital admissions and respiratory issues, and calls for a moratorium on land-clearing fires in the Amazon and alignment with the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C target.

The document examines how wildfires—both climate-driven and intentional—degrade air quality and cause acute and chronic health issues. It highlights specific crises in the Amazon, Australia, and Canada, noting increased hospitalizations and respiratory distress, and calls for forest management moratoria and alignment with the Paris Agreement to protect public health.

The document examines how forest fires, driven by both intentional land clearing and climate change, create severe air pollution that impacts human health globally. It highlights specific crises in the Amazon, Australia, and Canada, noting increased respiratory and cardiovascular emergencies, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and significant disruptions to healthcare infrastructure. The authors call for forest protection, improved community adaptation, long-term health research, and global climate action aligned with the Paris Agreement.

The report highlights the severe health risks posed by biomass burning in the Brazilian Amazon, noting that air quality often exceeds WHO safety limits during the burning season. It emphasizes the disproportionate impact on vulnerable groups, including a 25% increase in respiratory hospitalizations among indigenous people over 50. The document argues that these health crises are exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and limited healthcare access in remote regions, calling for a moratorium on deforestation-related fires and improved air quality monitoring.

The document examines the health consequences of biomass burning in the Brazilian Amazon, highlighting the vulnerability of children, the elderly, and Indigenous populations. It notes that air quality standards in Brazil are less stringent than WHO guidelines and that monitoring systems have not been widely implemented. The brief links these fires to land clearing for agriculture and ranching, which contributes to climate change. It recommends a moratorium on deforestation, improved public health advisories, and international cooperation to meet Paris Agreement goals.

The document examines the under-recognized health risks of wildfire smoke in Canada, noting that climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of fires. It highlights specific respiratory and cardiovascular impacts, the vulnerability of certain populations, and the inadequacy of current public health systems to handle prolonged smoke events. The brief calls for improved emergency planning, the protection of Indigenous people, and the alignment of Canadian federal climate policy with the Paris Agreement.

The report examines the critical health crisis in the Brazilian Amazon caused by intentional forest fires used for agricultural land clearing. It highlights that smoke-related pollution frequently exceeds WHO safety guidelines, leading to increased hospitalizations for respiratory and cardiovascular issues. Indigenous populations are identified as particularly vulnerable due to pre-existing health conditions and limited access to healthcare, with a noted synergy between air pollution and COVID-19 severity. The document calls for an urgent suspension of deforestation and the implementation of stricter air quality monitoring and public health warnings.

Urban air pollution in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) poses a severe risk to children's health and development, with significant burdens found in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Children are more vulnerable due to their developing bodies and higher inhalation rates per unit of body weight. Key pollution sources include inefficient biomass combustion for cooking and heating, vehicle emissions, and waste burning, with residents of informal settlements facing the highest risks. The document advocates for integrating air quality management into climate change commitments (NDCs), investing in monitoring infrastructure—including citizen science—and adopting multi-sectoral interventions that target pollution sources rather than just symptoms.

The report evaluates three policy scenarios for transitioning New Jersey's medium- and heavy-duty (M/HD) vehicle fleet to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs). The most ambitious scenario, '100 x 40 ZEV + Clean Grid', projects cumulative net societal benefits of over $21 billion by 2050, including 303 avoided premature deaths and 325 fewer hospital visits. While ZEVs currently have higher purchase costs, the analysis predicts lifetime cost parity with combustion vehicles by 2030. The transition is expected to generate national macroeconomic gains in GDP and higher-paying jobs in electrical manufacturing and infrastructure, although net job gains may reverse by 2045 due to reduced fuel and maintenance spending. Implementation would require significant investment in depot and public charging infrastructure, with the 100 x 40 ZEV scenario requiring an average of $73 million annually for depot charging and $46 million for public networks.

The report analyzes the transition of New York's medium- and heavy-duty (M/HD) vehicle fleet to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) under three scenarios: the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) Rule, the ACT Rule plus the NOx Omnibus Rule, and a highly ambitious '100 x 40 ZEV + Clean Grid' scenario. The findings indicate that while ZEVs have higher initial purchase costs, they achieve lifetime cost parity with combustion vehicles by 2030. The most aggressive scenario is projected to generate over $36 billion in cumulative net societal benefits by 2050, including significant reductions in premature deaths and greenhouse gas emissions. The transition is expected to have positive macroeconomic effects on the U.S., including net job gains and GDP growth, while potentially lowering electricity rates for New York residents and businesses due to increased utility net revenue.

The report evaluates three policy scenarios for Oregon's medium- and heavy-duty (M/HD) truck fleet: the adoption of California's Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule, the addition of the NOx Omnibus Rule, and a more aggressive '100 x 40 ZEV + Clean Grid' scenario. The most ambitious scenario projects cumulative net societal benefits of $35.6 billion by 2050, including 186 avoided premature deaths and $1.9 billion in annual fleet cost savings. While ZEVs currently have higher purchase costs, the analysis suggests they will reach lifetime cost parity with combustion vehicles by 2030. The transition is expected to have positive macroeconomic effects on national jobs and GDP, and could reduce residential electricity rates in Oregon by up to 3.7% by 2050 due to increased utility net revenue.

The analysis models three policy scenarios for Southern New England, ranging from the adoption of California's Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule to a more aggressive '100 x 40 ZEV + Clean Grid' scenario. The findings indicate that transitioning the M/HD fleet to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) would yield significant net societal benefits, including reduced premature deaths, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and long-term cost savings for fleets and electricity customers. While initial purchase costs for ZEVs are higher, the report projects lifetime cost parity with combustion vehicles by 2035. Macroeconomic analysis suggests the transition would result in national net job gains and increased GDP, with new jobs in electrical component manufacturing and infrastructure construction offering higher average wages than the jobs they replace.