WHO Science & Policy Summary (SPS) on Land Use Planning: Sectoral Solutions for Air Pollution and Health
SDG 3: Good Health & Well-Being | SDG 11: Sustainable Cities & Communities
Institutions: Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs | Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change
Published 2 October 2025, this WHO Science & Policy Summary (SPS) explores the interconnected impacts of land use decisions on air pollution exposure and health outcomes. It underscores that policies regulating zoning, transport corridors, industrial siting, green buffers, and building density directly influence ambient air quality in urban, peri-urban, and rural regions.
The document integrates evidence across sectors-transport, energy, urban planning, agriculture-and recommends sectoral interventions (e.g. emission buffers, mixed land use, transit-oriented development) as levers to reduce pollutant exposure. It positions land use planning as a key policy tool to mediate the relationship between environmental health, climate, and urban growth.
For India, where rapid urbanisation and industrial growth coexist with high pollution burden, this WHO guidance offers a cross-sectoral template. Land use rules, urban design codes, transport planning, buffer zoning, and emissions regulation must be integrated-not siloed. Aligning with Indiaβs programs (e.g. Smart Cities, Metro & Mass Transit, National Clean Air Programme) can yield health plus climate dividends.
What is this WHO Summary? β A Science & Policy Summary (SPS) is a concise document designed to bridge evidence and policy: it distills scientific findings on air quality, energy, climate, and health to guide decision-makers.
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Land use planning: sectoral solutions for air pollution and health β WHO