WHO Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health

Accelerating action for clean air, clean energy access and climate change mitigation

In March 2025, Emory sent students to attend the WHO's second conference on air pollution and health. Emory's attendance continues their collaboration on the BreatheLife campaign that encourages cities and countries to improve local air quality.

From the WHO: "The Global conference on air pollution and health: accelerating action for clean air, clean energy access and climate change mitigation will highlight evidence-based, coordinated multi-sectoral solutions in cities, countries and regions to prevent communicable and noncommunicable disease, save lives, protect child health and limit climate change across the world."

Pre-Conference Recap

Monday, March 24th was the pre-conference day of the WHO Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health. This day, researchers, activists, and emerging leaders gathered to set the stage for a successful conference later this week.

Day One Recap

Tuesday, March 25th was the first day of the WHO Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health. Today, experts from around the world convened to share testimonies about the impacts of air pollution and discuss pressing topics including superpollutants, wildfires, and chronic disease.

Day Two Recap

Wednesday, March 26th was the second day of the WHO Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health. Panels on topics including agriculture, air quality management, transportation, and solid waste burning continued to promote the sharing of expert knowledge across national borders, and the day ended with an energetic concert featuring environmental activist and artist Ricky Kej.

Day Three Recap

Thursday, March 27th was the third and final day of the WHO Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health. Highlights included a special speech from President Gustavo Francisco Petro Urrego of the Republic of Colombia, a strategic communications panel, and a screening of the movie Respira, Mamá. In the evening, key stakeholders convened for high-level commitments to decisive action on clean air.

Post-Conference Recap

At the World Health Organization's Second Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health, participants enjoyed presentations from world-renown researchers and engaged in discussions about solutions for the globe's most pressing air pollution issues. This post-conference recap covers the week's biggest takeaways.

Conference Delegates
Mikee Headshot

Mikee Octobre

WHO Delegate
Mikee is a French linguistics student that hopes to work in the field of diplomacy, particularly environmental diplomacy. They have interned at the Consulate General of France in New York last summer and am grateful for the opportunity to attend a conference gathering people who share a keen interest in international relations and cooperation, motivated by a sense of community and public service.
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Rodrigo Puentes, Ph.D Candidate

WHO Delegate
Rodrigo Puentes is a PhD student in the Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health. He is currently focused on Climate & Health research and related topics including: Extreme Weather Events, Environmental Justice, Climate Change in Latin America, Air Pollution, and Natural Hazards. Rodrigo has vast experience in the public health sector, where he primarily focused on statistical research using laboratory-based surveillance data to study infectious diseases.
His background in statistical methods and epidemiological study designs has fostered the foundational tools to further explore the impacts of climate variability on health. He is determined on translating scientific findings into relevant public health contributions. In a world facing environmental and climate adversities, research plays a key role in providing evidence to improve living conditions and health outcomes. Rodrigo’s interests align with the principles of environmental justice, leveraging his research to address social disparities in underrepresented and marginalized populations. His deep ties to Latin America and its people have shaped the way he views inequities, which have served as his main driver throughout his academic career
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Jiyoung Hwang, MPH '24

WHO Delegate
Jiyoung Hwang received her Master of Public Health (MPH) from Emory Rollins School of Public Health in 2024, with a specialization in Environmental Health and Epidemiology. She has maintained a strong research focus on air pollution and health since her MPH studies and continues to explore this field.
During her time in Saikawa Lab, she conducted research on personal exposure to PM₂.₅ among COPD patients, analyzing its chemical composition and environmental associations. Additionally, she continues to be involved in community-engaged projects, collecting and analyzing data on temperature and air quality to assess their public health impacts. Jiyoung is committed to advancing research on air pollution and its health effects and aims to contribute to evidence-based policies and interventions that mitigate environmental health risks.
headshot of Kylie Hanson

Kylie Hanson '25C

WHO Delegate
Kylie is a fourth year undergraduate student at Emory University studying environmental science and political science. She is a researcher in the Saikawa Lab, studying greenhouse gas emissions from the anaerobic digestion of food waste, which has turned into her honors thesis.
Kylie is a student-athlete on Emory’s track and field team. She has been on the executive board of the Young Democrats of Emory University for four years and is passionate about student civic engagement. She has worked for the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Ohio Statehouse, and Columbus City Council, fostering an interest in environmental policy. Next year, she will be a Policy Associate for Frontier Group, an environmental policy think tank. In the summer of 2024, she traveled to the June UN Climate Meetings (SB 60) and watched how climate science intersects with global decision-making. At the WHO Second Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health, she is excited to explore the intersection between environmental health and global policy further.
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Isobel Li, '27C

WHO Delegate
Isobel (she/her) is an Applied Math/Stats and Environmental Science major interested in international climate action, renewable energy development, and sustainable food systems. Her research with the Saikawa Lab focuses on air quality and pollution remediation.
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Candelaria Bergero, PhD Candidate

WHO Delegate
Candelaria is a PhD candidate in Earth System Science at the University of California Irvine, where she analyzes the implementation of net-zero emission targets and how they affect people. Before starting her PhD, Candelaria joined the Joint Global Change Research Institute, where she applied GCAM to assess mitigation pathways. She holds an M.S. in Environmental Sciences from Emory University and a B.A. in Political Science and International Relations from the Universidad Catolica Argentina.
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Willow Newcomb, '25 LGS

WHO DelegateCOP29
Willow is a second-year student in the Laney Graduate School Masters of Development Practice program where she is concentrating in Sustainable Environment and Livelihoods.
Willow is currently a Climate Justice Intern at CARE International where she is working on developing principles for locally-led mitigation. On campus, Willow serves as Lab Coordinator for Dr. Jola Ajibade’s Climate Resilience and Transformations Lab. She also serves as a teaching assistant for Dr. Ajibade’s Climate Solutions, Environmental Justice, and Community Resilience-Disasters respective courses. Upon her graduation in May, Willow will join the CDC’s Climate and Health Program where she will focus on translating climate science into practical resource for public health departments who are working to adapt and mitigate to the impacts of climate change in their region.
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Maria Cardelino, '25 RSPH

WHO Delegate
Maria is an MPH candidate within the Environmental Health department of the Rollins School of Public Health. She has broad interests in exposure modeling and characterization, specializing in laboratory methods in metabolomics. She has also developed data visualization tools for a NASA-funded air pollution citizen science project. When she is not working, she enjoys biking around Atlanta and rock climbing.
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Lucas Huang, '27 C

WHO Delegate
Lucas is a sophomore at Emory College pursuing a double major in Environmental Sciences and Quantitative Sciences. His research at the Saikawa Lab primarily focuses on analyzing trends in ambient PM2.5 concentrations and comparing with satellite estimates in Guatemala.
In addition to research, Lucas actively engages with the community through initiatives like SoilSHOPs and the Green-ovation Hackathon as part of the Saikawa Lab. Lucas aspires to pursue a career in academia, furthering research that promotes environmental health and conservation. He hopes to learn more about air quality monitoring, advocacy, and policies in the WHO Air Quality conference.