United Nations has called for an urgent need to invest in clean air solutions now, as air pollution causes increasing public health, environmental, and economic harms worldwide. The call was made on the fifth annual International Day of Clean Air for blue skies.
This investment is important because ore than 99% of humanity is now breathing polluted air, leading to more than 8 million annual deaths, including more than 700,000 children under five, according to UN.
The United Nations General Assembly designated September 7 as the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies to raise awareness and drive action against air pollution. Established in 2020, the day encourages global collaboration to combat pollution and protect ecosystems, according to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).
“Invest in #CleanAirNow”
“Investing in clean air requires actions by both government and businesses to phase out fossil fuels, strengthen air quality monitoring, enforce air quality standards, boost renewable energy, transition to clean cooking, build sustainable transport and sustainable waste management systems, clean up supply chains, and reduce harmful emissions, including methane,” the UN Secretary-General said.
This year’s theme, Invest in #CleanAirNow, emphasizes the urgency of investing in cleaner air and promoting shared responsibility to reduce air pollution. It calls for coordinated efforts at individual, national, regional, and international levels to implement sustainable solutions.
In support of this year’s theme, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) has launched the Air Quality Management Exchange Platform (AQMx), offering air quality professionals tools and resources to meet World Health Organization (WHO) Air Quality Guidelines. Developed following a UN Environment Assembly resolution, the platform addresses gaps in air quality management, especially in regions where access to air quality data is limited, such as Africa.
UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen used her Clean Air Day message to call for greater investment in air pollution solutions in all societies, and an end to the violation of every human being’s fundamental right to breathe clean air.
“We are asking nations, regions and cities to establish robust air quality standards by backing renewable energy and sustainable transport, holding industry to account with strict emission standards, and integrating air quality into climate action,” she said.
“We are asking for strong funding through redirecting fossil fuel subsidies, through grants or microloans for cleaner cooking technologies, and through serious private sector engagement and investment,” she added. “We are asking for collective action, from international development initiatives to individuals that can make small changes in their own lifestyles.”
What is the International Day of Clean Air for blue skies?
The United Nations General Assembly designated September 7 as the International Day of Clean Air for blue skies, the day to raise awareness and drive action on combating air pollution.
UNEP says the day “aims to build a global community of action, encouraging countries to collaborate in tackling air pollution to protect our ecosystems. This day provides a platform for cooperation at individual, national, regional, and international levels to work together and Invest in #CleanAirNow.”
Martina Otto, Head of the CCAC Secretariat, highlighted the importance of addressing air pollution globally. “Access to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment is a human right, not a luxury for those who can afford it,” she said at the AQMx launch. “Tackling air pollution requires cooperation across administrative boundaries, across countries and across key sectors to implement tried and tested measures that cut pollution. With AQMx, we intend to close a capacity gap to create cleaner communities for us all.”
Why is it important?
Air pollution, often referred to as a “silent and invisible killer,” is affecting 99% of the global population.
According to the Health Effects Institute, there were 8.1 million deaths due to air pollution in 2021. Poor air quality is the biggest external threat to health, according to the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI).
Vulnerable populations bear the brunt of these impacts, especially in areas with high pollution levels. According to the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI), improvements in air quality could extend global life expectancy by nearly two years, with people in northern India potentially gaining 6.8 years.