At the United Nations Headquarters in New York City this week, I joined global leaders, scientists, policymakers, and advocates for Healthy Indoor Air: A Global Call to Action, the inaugural event on indoor air quality, convened during the UN General Assembly High-Level Week.

The launch of the Global Pledge for Healthy Indoor Air and the establishment of a Global Commission mark a watershed moment, a recognition that the air we breathe indoors, in our homes, schools, workplaces, and health facilities, must be safeguarded as a fundamental determinant of health, equity, and resilience.

This call to action resonates deeply with my Wellbeing Foundation Africa’s work, as we formally endorse the Global Pledge for Healthy Indoor Air. From maternal and newborn health to climate adaptation, I have seen firsthand how invisible risks compound vulnerabilities. Today, we affirm that indoor air quality is not a matter of convenience or comfort, but of justice, dignity, and survival.

I commend Professor Bronwyn King AO and the coalition of partners who have brought this timely issue to the global stage, and I look forward to contributing to the sustained, collective effort required to turn pledges into protection for every community.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Toyin Saraki (@toyinsaraki)