Adam Taylor BESA IAQ Group chair.
Launched during the 'Healthy Indoor Air: A Global Call to Action' conference, the pledge calls on governments, businesses, and civil society to take practical action to ensure access to clean indoor air. It declares:
“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.”
The statement highlights that poor IAQ, where people spend up to 90% of their time, contributes to respiratory and heart diseases, infectious disease transmission, cognitive impairment, and exposure to carcinogens. It builds on earlier recognitions by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations that clean air is a human right (WHO, 2021; UN, 2022).
By signing, BESA commits to:
- Monitoring and improving IAQ in buildings under its influence
- Applying science-based standards and sharing best practices
- Collaborating across sectors to drive innovation and investment
- Reporting transparently to maintain public trust.
“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.”
BESA has long advocated for IAQ to be treated with the same urgency as outdoor pollution. According to WHO, poor indoor air contributes to 3.8 million premature deaths annually. BESA members play a key role in improving ventilation systems that reduce exposure to pollutants and infectious agents, enhance productivity, and support better sleep.
To mark its commitment, BESA will host the fourth annual World Ventilation Day event, WorldVentil8Day Exchange, on 6 November in London. The free, full-day gathering will bring together engineers, consultants, housing providers, policymakers, and regulators to share knowledge and solutions for healthier indoor environments.
The event builds on BESA’s suite of free IAQ resources, including:
- Buildings as Safe Havens
- Indoor Air Quality for Health & Wellbeing
- A Practical Guide to Mould.
“These tools help building owners, FM providers, and contractors take practical steps to assess, monitor, and improve indoor environments,” said Adam Taylor, chair of BESA’s Indoor Air Quality Group. “The pledge will also help us in our ongoing efforts to champion IAQ in regulatory debates, industry standards, and client education.”
The Global Pledge aligns with key UN Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 3 (Good Health & Wellbeing) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities & Communities), reinforcing BESA’s commitment to healthier, more sustainable built environments.
For details on attending the WorldVentil8Day Exchange, visit BESA’s event page.