Communication is an essential part of air quality management. Effectively communicating air quality information is needed in order to raise public awareness, engage stakeholders, strengthen policies, and change attitudes to influence behavior that will lead to reduction of air pollutant emissions. Measures for pollution control will only be effective if decision makers, key stakeholders and the general public understand the impacts of air pollution and the importance of interventions. The communication of air pollution prevention and control is complexed. It is therefore necessary to consider the target audience, key messages, and type of channels used to communicate air quality information.

In Guidance Area 4, learners will understand the essentials of developing an effective air quality communication strategy to inform, educate, and strengthen stakeholders’ participation in all aspects of air quality management to prevent and reduce air pollution. This module is divided into four sections: 1) The key factors involved in effective air quality communication including target audience, key messages and type of communication channels; 2) The different approaches to raise public awareness, change attitudes and influence behaviour; 3) Communicating air quality and climate change; and 4) Designing and developing an air quality communication plan.