Microscopic particles (known as PM2.5) are the biggest danger to human health.
Air pollution is the biggest external cause of ill-health and premature deaths.
The International Day of Clean Air for blue skies is a yearly reminder that the world must urgently tackle air quality.
The World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on the Future of Clean Air seeks to support governments, business and civil society in creating solutions to the global air quality crisis.
Air pollution is a killer. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) says it blights the lives and health of billions of people. Children and elderly people are disproportionately affected by poor air quality.
Microscopic particles (known as PM2.5) are the biggest danger to human health, according to research by Chicago University. The study says their impact on life expectancy “is comparable to that of smoking, more than 4 times that of high alcohol use, more than 5 times that of transport injuries like car crashes, and more than 6 times that of HIV/AIDS”.
UNEP insists only action on a global scale can solve the air pollution crisis, which is why the International Day of Clean Air for blue skies is marked each year.
What is the International Day of Clean Air for blue skies?
The United Nations General Assembly designated 7 September as the day to raise awareness and drive action on combating air pollution. That’s the goal of the International Day of Clean Air for blue skies, which was inaugurated in 2020.
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.”
