WHO Report Shows How Urban Design Can Cut Pollution and Improve Public Health

The World Health Organization’s 2025 technical brief lays out a compelling case for why land use must be at the heart of global strategies to combat air pollution. Drawing on expertise from institutions such as the University of Legon in Ghana, the University of California in the United States, the EHESP School of Public Health in France, the University of Toronto’s Centre for Global Health, the University of Bristol and the University of Cape Town, the University of Geneva, Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, and the University of Canberra in Australia, the report stresses that city layouts, zoning laws, and infrastructure siting are not simply technical exercises but matters of human health. By highlighting the intersection between environment, planning, and public well-being, the brief transforms land use planning into a frontline strategy for reducing illness and premature deaths caused by polluted air.

The Link Between Land and the Air We Breathe

Pollution does not emerge in a vacuum. It is shaped as much by where emissions occur as by how much is released. From power plants and factories to traffic corridors and ports, the siting of high-emission activities directly determines who suffers the consequences. The density of housing, the availability of green spaces, and even the configuration of streets influence whether pollutants disperse or concentrate. Poor planning, particularly in fast-growing cities, can trap harmful gases and particulate matter, intensify “urban heat island” effects, and worsen ozone formation. On the other hand, compact and well-designed neighborhoods, equipped with reliable public transport and pedestrian-friendly layouts, can drastically cut emissions. The report emphasizes that the physical design of cities is a powerful determinant of respiratory and cardiovascular health outcomes.

Inequality in Exposure: The Poor Breathe Dirtier Air

The technical brief does not shy away from the stark inequalities in exposure. In many urban centers, wealthier communities benefit from tree-lined streets, better ventilation, and distance from polluting infrastructure. Poorer residents, especially those in slums or informal settlements, are disproportionately affected. These communities are often situated next to major roads, industrial sites, or waste dumps, with little or no access to green buffers. Indoor air pollution adds to the burden, as low-income households often depend on smoky fuels for cooking and heating. Children, women, and migrants bear the brunt of this dual exposure. In slums, the overcrowded conditions, lack of infrastructure, and reliance on polluting energy sources make the air especially toxic. The WHO report insists that participatory planning, where vulnerable populations are consulted and their needs integrated, is essential to address these systemic inequities.

Obstacles, Drivers, and Real-World Lessons

Despite the urgency, numerous barriers stand in the way. Climate-driven land degradation, lobbying by powerful industrial and transport sectors, and resistance from businesses worried about losing car traffic all slow reform. The rapid growth of urban populations, particularly in Africa and Asia, creates further pressure, while over one billion people continue to live in slums worldwide. Wars, poverty, and unclear land ownership make sustainable planning even more difficult. Yet the momentum for change is growing. Public awareness of air pollution’s deadly consequences is rising, social pressure for healthier cities is mounting, and governments are increasingly tying air quality improvements to climate commitments. Technological progress, including advanced monitoring, GIS mapping, and modeling tools, equips policymakers with better evidence for decision-making.

The report draws attention to inspiring case studies. In Barranquilla, Colombia, the creation of more than 700,000 square meters of new green spaces not only improved air quality but also gave nearly every resident access to a park within an eight-minute walk. In Barcelona, Spain, the pioneering “superblock” model reclaimed neighborhood streets from cars, cutting nitrogen dioxide by 25 percent, reducing noise, and potentially preventing hundreds of premature deaths each year. And in Accra, Ghana, the Urban Health and Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Project mobilized local authorities, health experts, and communities to map hotspots and embed health assessments in planning decisions. These examples demonstrate that tangible change is possible when science, politics, and communities work together.

A Roadmap for the Future

The WHO concludes with a roadmap that calls for governments, researchers, and health professionals to act in concert. Governments are urged to align land use policies with WHO air quality standards, strengthen monitoring systems, and provide incentives for sustainable transport and green infrastructure. Economic tools such as land value capture, subsidies, and carbon pricing are proposed as mechanisms to finance cleaner, healthier cities. Researchers must continue to develop health impact assessments and cost–benefit analyses that show the economic case for reducing pollution. Health professionals, meanwhile, are called upon to raise awareness, identify local pollution hotspots, and advocate for renewable energy and green building practices. The overarching theme is inclusivity: planning must be participatory, ensuring that those most at risk have a voice in shaping the environments they inhabit.

The document leaves no doubt that the way land is managed will determine the air humanity breathes and the health burdens future generations inherit. Cities account for nearly four-fifths of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet only one in ten meets current pollution control standards. With the stakes this high, the WHO frames land use planning as one of the most powerful levers available for delivering cleaner air, healthier lives, and more resilient cities. In its vision, the roads we build, the neighborhoods we design, and the green spaces we preserve will not only shape skylines but also dictate survival.