Air pollution causes approximately
Air pollution causes approximately
according to the new World Health Organisation guidelines.
Outdoor air pollution in both cities and rural areas was estimated to cause
Launched by the UN General Assembly in 2019, it champions the increasing interest in clean air and the need to improve air quality.
Air pollution knows no national borders and is all pervasive. Any damage to our atmosphere is a cross we all collectively bear. This is the air we share.
This guide will provide information on how to reverse the effects of air pollution.
Consider, commit and take action for clean air.
Reduce your waste, compost food, recycle non-organic trash, reuse grocery bags and don’t burn trash.
Switch to a plant based diet, cut single use plastic products, and consider ways of travelling through means that pollute less.
Check efficiency ratings for home heating systems and cook-stoves, favouring fuels and technologies that reduce emissions and protect health.
Conserve energy, turn-off lights and electronics when not in use, use appliances with high energy-efficiency ratings in your home. This will reduce emissions and save money.
Encourage and support your government and businesses to take measures to improve air quality.
On September 7, when International Day of Clean Air for blue skies is observed worldwide, make a social media post by taking photo or video of yourself fulfilling your commitment and use the Day’s hashtag.
Consider pledging to be more sustainable in your consumption and reduce air pollution in your daily lives.
Advocate and support public authorities in implementing programmes to address the issue of air pollution.
Work with private organisations to support incorporation of practices to green the value chain.
Commit to promoting and using public transport, cycling or walking short distances, and carpooling where possible.
Make a commitment to reduce and recycle trash.
Consider how combatting air pollution could be integrated into your activities.
Organize a tree planting activity.
Organize a trash clean-up event.
Organize public events and campaigns to improve public knowledge and action to address the issue of air pollution.
Work with artists and musicians to create events and exhibitions that raise awareness in your communities.
Use the International Day of Clean Air for blue skies as an opportunity to ask your local authorities to provide timely, regular air quality data and petition for legislation to control the worst polluters.
Use the Day to lead the fight for cleaner air and ask your governments and schools to transition to cleaner energy.
Commit to providing electric buses and making your school campus bicycle friendly.
Create no-car idling zones near your school or university campuses.
Explore options and install air quality monitors so that the community is aware of the air they are breathing. Announce this on the Day.
Ask teachers and professors to teach about the issue of air pollution and how it is linked to climate change and development.
Integrate educational content and activities to improve students’ knowledge and action on environmental issues in general and on pollution reduction in particular.
If schools and campuses are or will be opened, ask students to bring in seedlings for a tree-planting event.
Support students in the creation of environmental clubs, online or on campus, which can empower youth to be innovative and come up with ideas to tackle air pollution.
Explore and commit on the Day to using renewable energy on your campuses.
The Day can be used as platform for students and education officials to lead the fight for cleaner air and ask their governments and schools to transition to cleaner energy.
Make pledges on reducing emissions and investing in research and development to imagine new and less damaging ways of doing business.
Building networks with like-minded businesses to promote ecologically, economically, and socially sustainable business ideas that reduce air pollution.
Investing in and promoting products, solutions, and technologies that cut emissions and reduce pollution.
Make pledges on reducing emissions and greening the value chain, adopting more sustainable production/business practices and investing in research and development to imagine new and less damaging ways of doing business.
Tracking and reducing air pollutants and greenhouse gases from facilities and supply chains.
Using recycled and recyclable materials in products and packaging, reducing and waste from production cycles, moving toward renewable energy sources, and by opting for energy-efficient transport.
Raise awareness about actions your city is taking to improve air quality.
Provide free public transport in urban areas to raise awareness to encourage drivers to leave their cars at home.
Organize eco-walks and public cycling events to promote walking and bicycling.
Create car-free streets.
Join BreatheLife to raise public awareness about the health and climate impacts from air pollution and commit to track progress, share experiences and best practices through the BreatheLife Network.
Share online educational materials for local schools.
Organize tree-planting activities.
Work with artists and musicians to create events and exhibitions that raise awareness across your city.
Organize an in-person or virtual event with local city officials and health professionals.
Share pictures, videos and stories on social media using #WorldCleanAirDay.
Consider using the International Day of Clean Air for blue skies to make commitments to improve air quality.
Announce new regulations to reduce harmful air pollutants from industrial sources.
Commit to policies that improve municipal solid waste management and reduce emissions from that sector.
Pledge to reduce subsidies from fossil fuels.
Commit to integrate air quality and climate planning, management and emissions inventories.
Commit to implement local and national air quality action plans.
Commit to Assess the number of lives that are saved, the health gains in children and other vulnerable groups, and the avoided financial costs to health systems that result from implementing new policies.
Put in place policies that increase access to clean, non-polluting energy sources in all homes.
Commit to monitor air quality, assess pollution sources across key sectors, and tackle them to protect citizens from harmful toxins and pollutants.
Implement e-mobility and sustainable mobility policies and actions with the aim of making a decisive impact on road transport emissions.
Commit to a phase out petrol and diesel based cars.
Join BreatheLife to raise public awareness about the health and climate impacts from air pollution and commit to track progress, share experiences and best practices through the BreatheLife Network.
Implement integrated air quality and climate change policies designed to simultaneously achieve the WHO Ambient Air Quality Guideline values and Paris Agreement climate commitments.
Commit to work toward and advocate for regional, national and international action on sources outside your borders.
Commit to the Global Methane Pledge and national actions to help achieve a 30% reduction in global methane emissions below 2020 levels by the end of this decade.
Pledge more investments in renewable energy sources.
In preparation for September 7, organise campaigns, events and activities to mobilise civil society and engage general public to build knowledge and increase action to combat air pollution.
Air pollution knows no national borders and is all pervasive.