Dear Planetary Health Changemaker,
The air we breathe connects us to one another – and to all living systems that sustain life.
According to the State of Global Air 2025 report, over a third (36%) of the world’s population is exposed to dangerous levels of PM2.5, and nearly 2.6 billion people face health risks from burning solid fuels at home.
This month, we explored how our members are quantifying and addressing the global burden of air pollution. The Neuro Climate Working Group contributed to the report's landmark finding that air pollution causes 1 in 4 dementia deaths — the first time this link has been quantified at scale. The LovexAir Foundation delivered some of the first large-scale citizen science linking respiratory symptoms and mental health burdens directly to local air quality data from fellow member OpenAQ.
These impacts extend beyond human lungs. Pesticides and chemical pollution are driving pollinator decline — and with it, the nutrition and livelihoods of farming communities. New research co-authored by PHA Faculty Director Dr. Sam Myers found that, across 10 villages in Nepal, pollinators account for over 20% of families' intake of key vitamins and 44% of farming income.
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