THE Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has joined more than 150 worldwide organisations in signing the Global Pledge for Healthy Indoor Air at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
The Pledge is an international commitment calling on governments, organisations, and businesses to take practical action to ensure every person has access to healthy indoor air. It highlights indoor air quality (IAQ) as a fundamental human right and a critical component of public health, education, and economic productivity.
The pledge, which was launched at the Healthy Indoor Air: A Global Call to Action conference attended by political leaders, policymakers, scientists, and health experts, states: “We declare, for the first time as a global community, that clean indoor air is a fundamental human right for protecting health and safeguarding well-being. Poor air quality in indoor environments – where populations spend up to 90% of their time – contributes to respiratory disease (including asthma and lung cancer), heart disease, infectious disease transmission, and cognitive impairment, in addition to potential impacts from carcinogens.”
By signing, BESA joined a growing coalition of partners who commit to: monitor and improve indoor air quality in buildings they influence; apply science-based standards and share best practice openly; collaborate across sectors to accelerate innovation and investment in healthier indoor environments; and report transparently on progress to maintain public trust and accountability.
“Signing the Global Pledge was a natural step for BESA,” said technical director Kevin Morrissey. “Our members are at the forefront of designing, installing and maintaining the systems that determine the quality of the air we breathe.
“This commitment sends a clear signal: we will work with clients, policymakers, and partners worldwide to make clean indoor air the norm, not the exception.”
One of the association’s first steps following the signing of the Pledge will be to host an event to mark the fourth World Ventilation Day in London on November 6. The WorldVentil8Day Exchange is a free, full-day knowledge-sharing event bringing together engineers, consultants, housing providers, policymakers, and regulators to focus on ventilation and IAQ solutions.
