International Day of Clean Air for blue skies

  The Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) is developing an integrated assessment of air pollution and climate change in Africa to identify and assess priority measures that reduce emissions while maximizing the benefits for health, ecosystems, climate, and food security. This scientifically led process is being coordinated by SEI in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) , Regional Office for Africa (ROA) and the African Union Commission (AUC) . The Africa Assessment of Air Pollution and Climate Change brings together academics, experts, and practitioners working across Africa. It seeks to address the growing air pollution and associated climate threats while promoting actions to reduce air pollution and climate change. The analysis being undertaken is framed around ‘development pathways for Africa and their air quality and climate consequences’. It aims to determine how Africa can meet its development objectives and priorities as articulated...

Аir pollution is the single greatest environmental risk to human health and one of the main avoidable causes of death and disease globally, with some estimated 6.5 million premature deaths (2016) across the world attributed to indoor and outdoor air pollution. Particularly in developing countries, air pollution disproportionately affects women, children and the elderly, especially in low-income populations as they are often exposed to high levels of ambient air pollution and indoor air pollution from cooking and heating with wood fuel and kerosene. Аir pollution is a global problem with far-reaching impacts owing to its transport over long distances. In the absence of aggressive intervention, the number of premature deaths resulting from ambient air pollution is estimated to be on track to increase by more than 50 per cent by 2050. Society bears a high cost of air pollution due to the negative impacts on the economy, work productivity, healthcare costs and tourism, among others. ...

Last month, the United Nations General Assembly passed a historic resolution declaring access to a healthy environment a universal human right. The resolution has been lauded around the world in recent weeks, raising hopes it will prod governments to tackle a host of long-neglected environmental problems. At the top of the list for environmental campaigners is air pollution, which is responsible for nearly 10 per cent of all global deaths . “The resolution will empower people to claim their rights to a healthy environment,” said Soo-Young Hwang, a Legal Officer with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). “And the right to breathe clean air is an integral component of the right to a healthy environment.” Hwang made the comments ahead of the International Day of Clean Air for blue skies , which is designed to raise awareness about the dangers of air pollution. The resolution will empower people to claim their rights to a healthy environment. Precedent-setting The UN General A...

Air pollution has been called the most-pressing environmental health crisis of our time, responsible for an estimated 7 million premature deaths every year. Approximately nine in 10 people around the world breathe unclean air, which increases the risk of asthma, heart disease and lung cancer. City dwellers, especially the poor, often suffer the most from air pollution, which along with imperilling lives, feeds climate change . Realizing those dangers, several municipalities are taking action to combat airborne contaminants . On 7 September,we will focus the urgent need to improve air quality, we look at five of those cities. We celebrate this year’s International Day of Clean Air for blue skies by highlighting work to counter air pollution in Bogota, Warsaw, Accra and…  Read the Story of the  Five cities tackling air pollution

In North America , air pollution remains a serious health risk, especially for the poor and communities of colour. However, research suggests large improvements in air quality have been achieved in recent years, providing hope that the region, and others around the world, can counter one of the planet’s deadliest environmental threats. A recent report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) found that Canada and the United States of America had reduced the amount of some common pollutants by more than 80 per cent. As a result, North Americans are at least six times less likely to die from air pollution than the global average. The report, Actions on Air Quality in North America, credited both countries for introducing science-based policies that cut down on air pollution, which is responsible for more than 10 per cent of global deaths. “Canada and the United States have unique approaches towards reducing air pollution, which have successfully resulted in a long-term reduct...

In July this year, nations recognized the universal right to clean, healthy and sustainable environment . Clean air is now a human right. A stable climate is a human right. Healthy nature is a human right. Today, air pollution is denying billions of people of their rights. Dirty air affects 99 per cent of people on the planet, and the poor suffer worst. Especially women and girls who suffer from cooking and heating with dirty fuels. The poor also live in areas choked with fumes from traffic and industry. Air pollutants also cause global warming, and wildfires are further polluting the air. And when people are exposed to air pollution and extreme heat, their risk of death is some 20 per cent higher. Climate change and air pollution are a deadly duo. On this third International Day of Clean Air for blue skies, I call on all countries to work together to combat air pollution. We know what to do: invest in renewable energy and swiftly transition away from fossil fuels; rapidly move to zero...