International Day of Clean Air focuses on air pollution as a global topic residing in the heart of the economy, biodiversity, agriculture, environment and climate crisis.
Exposure to poor air quality affects the health of humans, animals, children and elderly persons.
Only one per cent of humanity is inhaling air that meets the stringent air quality guidelines of WHO.
Air pollution overwhelms the underlying health issues in children from prenatal, neonatal and infant during crucial developmental stages.
According to WHO, 7 million premature death occur in a year, including 600,000 children under the age of 15.
Significance of International Day of Clean Air.
The United Nations signify the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies on September 7th.
The UN celebrates the day by hosting a summit with member states. 2022 theme for International Day of Clean Air is “Air we Share”.
It urges everyone to take action by comprehending the adversities of existing pollution in the air across national boundaries.
For many decades WHO has warned about air pollution and its devastating effect on ecosystems and biodiversity.
In 2019, United Nations General Assembly designated 7 September as the International Day of Clean Air for blue skies.
This year marks the third International Day of Clean Air.
Furthermore, it stressed the urgent need to raise public awareness and promote and facilitate actions to improve air quality.
The UN warns, “the air that keeps us alive is making us sick.”
Air pollution strongly contributes to climate change.
With several greenhouse gases and air pollutant emissions, it is undeniable that air pollution is connected to climate change.
While several nations introduce laws and emission-reducing innovations, climate adversities are prevailing throughout the globe.
The links between air pollution and climate change are legion and increasing rapidly.
Intense droughts, torrential rains, flash floods, crucial rivers drying up – all are the repercussions of air pollution.
In addition, rising temperatures are igniting wildfires in the Amazon rainforest, Spain, the US, and several many regions.
Air pollution is an issue that affects us all, without any discrimination. As the UN says, this has become a sustainable development issue. It cannot be overcome without universal accountability and action.
