As governments and international organizations convene for the 81st United Nations General Assembly to address challenges including infectious diseases, wildfire smoke and extreme heat, the Brown University Pandemic Center, Montenegrin Institute for Advanced Innovation (MIAI), Air Club and International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) have launched the Global Indoor Air Quality Policy Database.

The new resource is designed to help governments identify and strengthen policies that improve indoor air quality (IAQ) while building resilience against multiple health and environmental threats. According to its developers, it is the first comprehensive repository focused specifically on national indoor air quality policies, bringing together 253 policies from 53 countries.

Improving indoor air can provide a practical way for governments to strengthen public health without relying primarily on individuals to change their behavior. Better buildings can help reduce exposure to infectious pathogens and wildfire smoke while also supporting everyday health and potentially improving learning outcomes.

Schools are a particularly important setting because children spend a significant portion of their waking hours there. In Montenegro, MIAI is developing a model that could be replicated elsewhere by introducing open-source air-cleaning technologies across the country's schools.
The database will be featured at the UN General Assembly side event “Healthy Indoor Air in Schools: Every Breath Shapes Learning,” which is co-sponsored by the governments of Montenegro, France and Eswatini.

Providing Policymakers With Comparable Data
The database's developers say policymakers previously lacked a single resource that could provide a comprehensive view of how different countries are addressing indoor air quality.
Skandan Ananthasekar, Visiting Fellow at the Brown University Pandemic Center and the database's development lead, said the resource makes it possible to identify both areas of progress and remaining policy gaps. He noted that governments considering new IAQ measures can examine policies already implemented elsewhere and draw lessons from those experiences.

The initiative follows the Global Pledge for Healthy Indoor Air, introduced at United Nations Headquarters in September 2025. During Climate Week NYC 2026, the four organizations behind the database are placing particular emphasis on indoor air quality in schools as an issue spanning public health, education and biosecurity.

Dr. Georgia Lagoudas, Senior Fellow at the Brown University Pandemic Center and Co-Founder of Air Club, said the database is intended to highlight countries whose approaches could provide useful models for others. She described the resource as an initial foundation for tracking indoor air quality policies and measuring progress, drawing a parallel with international efforts to improve access to clean water and outdoor air.

Lagoudas also pointed to the amount of time people spend indoors, emphasizing the importance of understanding and improving the air in homes, schools, workplaces and other indoor environments.

Rachel Hodgdon, President and CEO of IWBI, said the organizations' work builds on the Global Commission on Healthy Indoor Air and the Global Pledge for Healthy Indoor Air. She said the new database gives policymakers access to a consolidated collection of IAQ policies that can support further action and the development of healthier indoor environments.

Indoor Air Policy Is Expanding
The database indicates that government activity around indoor air quality has increased substantially in recent years. Of the 253 policies included, 42% were introduced in 2020 or later, suggesting that policy development accelerated following the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the same time, significant gaps remain in how governments regulate and oversee indoor air.
Government responsibility remains fragmented. Only 8 of the 53 countries, or 15%, have designated a clear government authority responsible for indoor air quality. In other countries, responsibilities are distributed among agencies dealing with health, energy, environment, education, housing and labor.

The legal status of policies varies. Approximately 64% of the policies are legally binding, but many are incorporated into workplace safety rules, building regulations or energy legislation, where indoor air quality may not be the primary objective. Dedicated health-based standards intended specifically to protect building occupants remain less widespread.

Schools remain underrepresented. Only 25 of the 253 policies specifically address educational settings, and fewer than half of those policies are legally binding. The finding highlights a gap between the importance of indoor air in schools and the extent to which governments have established enforceable requirements.

An Open Resource for Policymakers
The Global Indoor Air Quality Policy Database is designed as an open resource that allows users to examine policies across countries and policy areas.

Version 1.0 includes:

The database is intended to evolve through contributions from researchers, policymakers and other collaborators. The organizations have invited additional input as the resource develops.
The first version was produced with financial support from the Montenegrin Institute for Advanced Innovation and Balvi and is available through Air Club's online database.

About the Organizations
The Brown University Pandemic Center, part of Brown University’s School of Public Health, focuses on preventing pandemics, reducing vulnerabilities and strengthening resilience to pandemics and other biological emergencies, including their effects on health, peace, security and prosperity.

The Montenegrin Institute for Advanced Innovation (MIAI) is an independent nonprofit philanthropic organization headquartered in Podgorica, Montenegro, with activities extending internationally. Its work includes developing systems in partnership with communities and institutions, training people to operate those systems and producing evidence-based standards intended to provide lasting value.

The launch of the Global Indoor Air Quality Policy Database provides governments and other stakeholders with a common reference point for examining existing indoor-air policies, identifying gaps and considering approaches that could strengthen indoor environmental health.

During the recent IWBI webcast, From Classrooms to Communities: The Future of Healthy Indoor Air Policy and Advocacy, leaders in health, policy, and technology came together to discuss how innovations in indoor air quality (IAQ) are transforming the built environment—particularly within schools, a sector central to community well-being and future progress.

“What began as a small weekend idea completely took on a life of its own. Eleven years later, here we are,” said Liam Bates, CEO and Co-Founder of Kaiterra, describing how his company was born from a passion project to improve access to cleaner indoor air.

“COVID made everyone realize that the places where we live, work, learn, and play are more than just a slogan—they’re essential to survival and human health,” noted Jennifer Berthelot-Jelovic, Client Development Director at BranchPattern, pointing to a lasting shift in how people perceive the importance of healthy buildings, where research shows we spend about 90% of our lives.

“We need to put more muscle behind modernizing our schools so that we don’t lose an entire generation,” emphasized Mary Filardo, Executive Director of the 21st Century School Fund, highlighting the urgent need for investment in school infrastructure.

“Students’ well-being should come before closing off outdoor air to save a few dollars. We have to do better,” added Glenn Wilson, Business Development Manager at Daikin Applied, referring to how some schools still prioritize short-term savings over proper ventilation.

Moderated by Jason Hartke, IWBI’s Executive Vice President of External Affairs and Global Advocacy, the conversation explored how technology, policy, and advocacy intersect to improve indoor air quality—from classrooms to offices to public spaces. The session spotlighted how schools can drive broader community change through data-driven approaches and collaborative partnerships between the public and private sectors.
 
Turning Passion into Public Impact
For Jennifer Berthelot-Jelovic, the push for healthier air begins at home. As both a parent and a sustainability professional, she has seen how education leads to awareness and action. “When my teenage son turned on the exhaust fan after attending the WELL Healthy Homes Summit,” she shared, “I realized education is everything. That same understanding needs to reach our schools.”
 
Standing Together for Stronger Schools
With over three decades of experience leading the 21st Century School Fund, Mary Filardo reminded attendees that America’s school infrastructure remains vast, aging, and underfunded. “Every community makes decisions about the condition of its schools,” she said. “When education, civic, and industry leaders work together, we can make real progress and ensure we don’t miss a generation.”

As the lead author of the upcoming State of Our Schools report, Filardo revealed that the funding gap for school infrastructure continues to widen. Yet she remains hopeful: “If we approached facility investments more intelligently and holistically, that gap would shrink dramatically.”
 
Innovation Rooted in Purpose
For Liam Bates, advocacy for cleaner indoor air was personal. When his wife’s asthma worsened due to pollution, he sought affordable ways to measure air quality but found none. That challenge sparked Kaiterra’s creation. “We wanted to make the invisible visible,” he said. He also encouraged action, no matter how small: “If every school collected just one air quality data point, we’d instantly know which buildings are struggling—and which fixes are simple and cost-free.”
 
Designing for Healthier Learning
Glenn Wilson offered a practical perspective drawn from his field experience. “I’ve been on too many school rooftops where the fresh air dampers are screwed shut,” he said. “Saving a bit on energy shouldn’t come at the expense of children’s health.”
 
Looking Forward
Throughout the discussion, one message was clear: America’s school facilities—and the people inside them—deserve better. The panel called for innovative funding strategies, smarter policies, and stronger collaboration to modernize schools and safeguard public health.

In closing, Jason Hartke summarized the shift in mindset needed: “For decades, we’ve poured billions into energy efficiency. Now, it’s time to invest in health with the same focus and commitment.”