The Take a Breath initiative and its mission
The Take a Breath initiative by Goumbook launched its first webinar, Indoor Air Quality and Health: Global to Local Challenges and Opportunities, as the opening session of a three-part webinar series titled Breathing into the Future: Creating Healthier Indoor Spaces for Resilient Cities & Communities.
Every day, we take approximately 22,000 breaths, spending over 90% of our time indoors—yet we rarely consider how indoor air affects our health and well-being. The quality of the air we breathe indoors has profound implications on our overall health, productivity, and even longevity. Recognizing this, Goumbook launched this timely webinar series to spark critical discussions on how we can create healthier indoor environments.
This three-part webinar series, designed under the Take A Breath initiative, unites expert voices and key stakeholders to address the challenges of indoor air quality and drive actionable solutions. Take a Breath initiative is endorsed by the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, aligning with their Air Quality Agenda 2031. This initiative is also run in partnership with Opella-Telfast.
Expert insights
Moderated by Lama Saleh, Director of Programme Development and Partnerships leading on the Take A Breath initiative, this session featured an esteemed panel of experts, each bringing critical perspectives:
- Dr. Heba Safi (Technical Officer on Air Quality & Health at WHO Regional Office EMRO, Amman) provided an overview of air quality, its health implications, and the dangers of exposure to poor air quality.
- Dr. Vahid Hosseini (Lead on Transportation-Related Air Pollution at UNU-INWEH) explained the distinction between natural and anthropogenic particles, emphasizing how climate change affects indoor air quality.
- Dr. Kholood Altassan (Assistant Professor in Environmental and Occupational Health and Head of the Preventive Medicine and Public Health Unit at King Saud University, Riyadh) discussed challenges in indoor air quality policies, the impact of bukhoor on maternal health, and ongoing research linking dry air to chronic cough.
- Mr. Frank Hammes (Global CEO of IQAir) highlighted key indoor environments—homes, schools, and workplaces—focusing on CO2 and PM2.5 levels, their outdoor-indoor correlation, and the importance of air quality monitoring for tailored solutions.
What’s next?
This opening webinar is just the beginning—so stay tuned for upcoming sessions!
Our next session will explore the role of data-driven interventions for private and public sectors (scheduled for May–June), followed by a final discussion on technology and innovative solutions for better indoor air (scheduled for September–October).
These conversations are crucial for public and private sectors, academia, solution providers, and anyone interested in improving indoor air quality.
Watch the full recording of the opening session here: https://youtu.be/_FyijZTf9XY
Register for the upcoming webinars HERE: https://leaf-mahogany-df5.notion.site/19d87d17235a8151b1fec1e914ec64e9?pvs=105
Interested in joining the conversation? Reach out to lama@goumbook.com
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