Air Quality and the Future of Cities: A Case Study from Beirut

Clean air is fundamental to human health, climate resilience, and sustainable development. Yet, many urban centers across developing regions face alarming air pollution levels caused by rapid urbanization, reliance on diesel generators, and weak environmental enforcement.

This session, hosted by Green Leaders NGO, explores how urban air quality research can shape sustainable city policies and drive measurable progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Drawing from Green Leaders’ ongoing Beirut Air Quality Study, the discussion will present findings from air monitoring stations, field surveys on traffic and diesel emissions, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling.

Experts will examine how integrated research methods can identify pollution hotspots, guide urban policy, and promote energy and mobility transitions. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of how scientific data can inform urban planning and accelerate the path toward cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable cities.