The Australian Academy of Science – in partnership with Burnet Institute – is proud to be leading a global effort to recognise clean indoor air as essential to health and well-being.
Poor air quality in indoor environments – where research shows people 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. All people are impacted by poor indoor air quality.
While outdoor air quality is regulated in many countries, there are no widespread standards for indoor air quality.
The bushfires in Australia and the COVID-19 pandemic unambiguously revealed how essential effective indoor ventilation is for reducing exposure to air pollution and minimising the spread of contagions.
Effective indoor air quality systems are essential not just for general health but also for future pandemic preparedness and adaptation to our changing climate. They will allow critical services to continue, reduce the burden on the health system and boost productivity.
We are beyond merely raising awareness. What’s needed now is timely policy action in Australia and around the globe.
On 24 September (AEST), at the high-level event taking place on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly, more than 300 leaders in indoor air quality came together to sign a global pledge to formally recognise healthy indoor air as essential to health and well-being.
The UN event was livestreamed and recorded via UN Web TV from 3:30pm EDT 23 September/ 5:30am AEST 24 September.
The Healthy Indoor Air side event was co-sponsored by the governments of France and Montenegro. Brown University’s School of Public Health and the OSLUV Project were joint co-convenors alongside the Academy and Burnet Institute.
The Australian Academy of Science delegation involved a collaboration between Academy Fellow Professor Lidia Morawska FAA FTSE; Anna-Maria Arabia OAM, Academy Chief Executive; and Professor Bronwyn King AO, Special Advisor – Clean Air at Burnet Institute.
More information on the case for clean indoor air
This global effort builds on the Academy’s sustained advocacy to reduce the negative impacts of airborne transmission of viruses and pollutants in indoor spaces.
In a submission to the Productivity Commission’s 2025 productivity inquiry, the Academy called for a national, coordinated action on managing indoor air quality, including establishing enforceable indoor air quality performance standards. These standards should draw on the World Health Organization guidelines and be adapted to the Australian context.
If you don’t measure it, you can’t fix it. The collective cost of inaction in loss of health and productivity is in the billions in Australia alone.
—Anna-Maria Arabia OAM, Chief Executive, Australian Academy of Science
Healthy Indoor Air Quality: ABC TV News Breakfast interview transcript
Burnet media release: Scientists push for action on clean indoor air
Professor Lidia Morawska researches the health impacts of air quality
Clean Indoor Air Forum, Parliament House 2024
© 2025 Australian Academy of Science
