Global Commission on Healthy Indoor Air: Advancing Clean Air Worldwide
As co-owner of the Good News Network, I’ve always believed in highlighting solutions that uplift people and strengthen communities. That same commitment inspired me to join the Global Commission on Healthy Indoor Air, an initiative launched by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) to unite leading voices worldwide in advancing healthier indoor environments. My passion for this issue runs deep because indoor air impacts each of us, every single day, in the homes, schools, and workplaces where we spend most of our lives.
This is why I’m especially thrilled to share insights from one of the Commission’s co-chairs, Dr. Lidia Morawska, a globally recognized leader in indoor air science. She is a Distinguished Professor and Australian Laureate Fellow at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Brisbane.
For decades, Dr. Morawska has been at the forefront of research on indoor air quality, showing how the environments we live and work in directly influence health, learning, and productivity. Long before the world acknowledged indoor air as a major public health challenge, her work emphasized its significance and urged governments to prioritize it.
Now, as co-chair of the newly formed Global Commission on Healthy Indoor Air, she is applying her lifetime of research to a global effort aimed at turning science into action. I spoke with her about how the science has evolved, why this moment is critical, and why the Commission could mark a turning point for public health worldwide.
Q: Early in your career, indoor air quality wasn’t considered a high scientific priority. What changed?
Dr. Morawska: “When I started, very few outside the scientific field saw indoor air as an issue worth studying. Outdoor pollution dominated the headlines, while the quality of air inside—where we spend roughly 90 percent of our lives—was largely ignored. Over the years, my colleagues and I have built a strong body of evidence showing that indoor air quality directly impacts health, well-being, learning, and productivity. The research is clear: clean indoor air isn’t a luxury, it’s essential for human health.”
Q: Why is the launch of the Global Commission on Healthy Indoor Air so important right now?
Dr. Morawska: “The science has reached a pivotal stage. Leading this Commission allows us to transform decades of research into a unified global movement. It brings together leaders not just to acknowledge the importance of indoor air but to influence policies, standards, and investments so that clean air becomes a reality for everyone.”
Dr. Morawska’s leadership highlights the urgency of action: the evidence is undeniable. Indoor air quality is a critical yet often overlooked factor in human health. The Global Commission on Healthy Indoor Air exists to act on this knowledge—by bringing leaders together, shaping policy, and driving practical solutions that can improve lives and deliver significant health benefits across the globe.
This is why I’m especially thrilled to share insights from one of the Commission’s co-chairs, Dr. Lidia Morawska, a globally recognized leader in indoor air science. She is a Distinguished Professor and Australian Laureate Fellow at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Brisbane.
For decades, Dr. Morawska has been at the forefront of research on indoor air quality, showing how the environments we live and work in directly influence health, learning, and productivity. Long before the world acknowledged indoor air as a major public health challenge, her work emphasized its significance and urged governments to prioritize it.
Now, as co-chair of the newly formed Global Commission on Healthy Indoor Air, she is applying her lifetime of research to a global effort aimed at turning science into action. I spoke with her about how the science has evolved, why this moment is critical, and why the Commission could mark a turning point for public health worldwide.
Q: Early in your career, indoor air quality wasn’t considered a high scientific priority. What changed?
Dr. Morawska: “When I started, very few outside the scientific field saw indoor air as an issue worth studying. Outdoor pollution dominated the headlines, while the quality of air inside—where we spend roughly 90 percent of our lives—was largely ignored. Over the years, my colleagues and I have built a strong body of evidence showing that indoor air quality directly impacts health, well-being, learning, and productivity. The research is clear: clean indoor air isn’t a luxury, it’s essential for human health.”
Q: Why is the launch of the Global Commission on Healthy Indoor Air so important right now?
Dr. Morawska: “The science has reached a pivotal stage. Leading this Commission allows us to transform decades of research into a unified global movement. It brings together leaders not just to acknowledge the importance of indoor air but to influence policies, standards, and investments so that clean air becomes a reality for everyone.”
Dr. Morawska’s leadership highlights the urgency of action: the evidence is undeniable. Indoor air quality is a critical yet often overlooked factor in human health. The Global Commission on Healthy Indoor Air exists to act on this knowledge—by bringing leaders together, shaping policy, and driving practical solutions that can improve lives and deliver significant health benefits across the globe.
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