When Is Clean Air Day: The worldwide Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies is a dedicated day that aims to increase worldwide cooperation in combatting air pollution and improving air quality. In order to raise public awareness, this one-of-a-kind day honors the important role that clean air plays in enhancing the environment, the economy, productivity, and overall health.
This day is particularly important because it is inclusive, inviting participation from ordinary citizens, governmental and non-governmental organizations, and anybody who genuinely cares about improving air quality—a concern that, in our judgment, is shared by nearly everyone. This day, observed annually on September 7, provides a forum for people and groups to collaborate in order to achieve cleaner and healthier air for everyone.
History of International Day of Clean Air
The significance of clean air is explored in a document collected, presented, and accepted by the 74th United Nations General Assembly on December 19, 2019. This text is a focal point of the resolution, which goes beyond it. Declaring that “clean air is important for the health and day-to-day lives of people,” the report names air pollution as the main environmental threat to human health and the top preventable cause of disease and death worldwide.
The resolution recognizes that air pollution crosses national borders and highlights the significance of international cooperation across borders. It also stresses how economical and environmentally friendly solutions, such as hybrid and electric vehicles, have become. Global leaders have eagerly embraced the day and its importance.
In September 2020, Republic of Korea President Moon Jae-in expressed his delight, saying, “I am very pleased to celebrate the first International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, which was adopted at the General Assembly of the UN last year. This event enhances global public awareness of transboundary air pollution and marks an important milestone in global efforts to implement solution-based actions for cleaner air.”
According to the Geneva Environment Network, poor air quality affects numerous human rights, including the right to life, health, water, food, shelter, and a decent standard of living. Air pollution is considered to violate people’s right to a sustainable and healthy environment. However, the declaration emphasizes that achieving the right to clean air helps everyone and that air pollution is a preventable problem.
International Day of Clean Air Timeline
1955
The First Clean Air Law Was Introduced.
The United States passed the Air Pollution Control Act, the first step in the country’s control of air pollution.
1970
Establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency
The United States was founded. The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) goal is to preserve human health and the environment, with a special focus on maintaining air quality.
1992
Air pollution was mentioned at the Rio Earth Summit.
Air pollution was officially recognized as a major environmental problem at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro.
2004
World Health Organization Guidelines are Issued.
The World Health Organization (WHO) published the first set of air quality guidelines, which provide scientific knowledge on how air pollution affects humans.
2013
Air Quality Carcinogen Designation
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) describes outdoor air pollution as a carcinogenic agent, and it has also been linked to cancer.
2019
The International Day for Clean Air was created.
The United Nations General Assembly has established September 7 as the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, stressing the critical role that clean air plays in promoting health and tackling climate change.
Why Is International Day of Clean Air Important
Though it is a cliché, what we leave behind for future generations is the state of our planet’s environment. The more effort we put into addressing pollution problems now, the better off our successors will be.
Even if words are cheap, tangible actions are already being taken to minimize air pollution, with more efforts planned. If you are passionate about preserving a clean and healthy environment, the time has come to take active steps toward making a positive historical effect.
We admire the fact that the United Nations is truly global in reach. The world looks to be shrinking as information grows and becomes more accessible to all. We think that the United Nations serves as a clear and meaningful example of moral and practical authority.
The background of International Day of Clean Air
On December 19, 2019, the 74th General Assembly of the United Nations developed, passed, and introduced a Clean Air Resolution. In addition to describing air pollution as a major environmental threat to human health and a top preventable cause of death and disease worldwide, this statement underlines the importance of clean air for people’s health and daily lives.
The resolution highlights the importance of international cooperation while emphasizing the fact that air pollution crosses national borders. It also supports the affordability of environmentally friendly alternatives such as hybrid and electric vehicles. Global leaders have strongly backed these ideas.
The inaugural International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies was celebrated in September 2020, and President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea expressed his delight. The day he had been named by the UN General Assembly the year before. In addition to raising awareness of transboundary air pollution, he hoped the event would mark a critical turning point in international efforts to implement solution-based measures for cleaner air.
Poor air quality affects a variety of human rights, including the right to life, health, water, food, shelter, and an acceptable standard of living, according to the Geneva Environment Network. Although there is little doubt that air pollution violates people’s right to a sustainable and healthy environment, it is also a problem that may be avoided. The valuable benefits of ensuring that everyone has the freedom to breathe clean air underscore how vital it is to address this problem.
Who Is International Clean Air Day Celebrated By?
Everybody, from people to organizations, celebrates International Clean Air Day with the unifying purpose of highlighting the necessity of adopting ecologically responsible efforts to enhance air quality and, in turn, support better health.
Coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) works with Breathe Life partners to perform a variety of events on this day. These programs aim to develop a shared commitment to maintaining both human health and the environment by promoting knowledge of the crucial relevance of adopting behaviors that contribute to cleaner air. International Clean Air Day provides a platform for group action, encouraging everyone from all walks of life to unite and actively contribute to the building of a more sustainable and health-conscious future.
What is Clean Air Day and when is it celebrated?
Encouraged by the increasing interest of the international community in clean air, and emphasizing the need to make further efforts to improve air quality, including reducing air pollution, to protect human health, the General Assembly decided to designate 7 September as the International Day of Clean Air for blue.
“Together for Clean Air” is the topic of the upcoming fourth edition of the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, which aims to underscore the urgent need for better partnerships, higher investments, and shared responsibility in the fight against air pollution. It also illustrates the direct effects of air pollution on ecosystem health as well as human health, highlighting our shared responsibility to keep the atmosphere and ensure clean air for everybody.
The International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies is a yearly observance on September 7 that notes the relevance of clean air for people’s daily lives and health. In addition, it says that air pollution is the largest environmental danger to human health and a major preventable cause of disease and death worldwide.
On January 22, 2020, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) officially declared this day by resolution 74/212. This rating is aimed to attract attention to how crucial it is to step up efforts to enhance air quality, especially lowering air pollution, in order to protect human health.
What is the theme for Clean Air Day 2023?
Together for Clean Air
The theme for the fourth annual International Day of Clean Air for blue skies, “Together for Clean Air”, highlights the urgent need for stronger partnerships, increased investment, and share responsibility for overcoming air pollution. Air pollution, indoors and outdoors, directly impacts human and ecosystem health.
The fourth annual International Day of Clean Air is focused on blue skies, and its tagline, “Together for Clean Air,” highlights how vital it is to build partnerships, improve financing, and share accountability in order to tackle air pollution effectively. The health of people and ecosystems is directly harmed by air pollution, regardless of the cause. Since we all breathe the same air, it is our joint duty to safeguard the atmosphere and make sure that everyone has access to clean air.
The World Health Organization (WHO) believes that 99 percent of people on the earth are exposed to air pollution. Due to the transboundary nature of air pollution, local, national, regional, and international collaboration is important to address this problem. The topic for this year stresses how crucial it is to work together, invest, and actively contribute to the goal of cleaner air. For the goal of decreasing pollution and enhancing air quality, collaborations among UN member states, development agencies, regional and international organizations, the business sector, and civil society are crucial.
Realizing that everyone has a part to play in protecting health and cleaning the air, the gains are shared by all. Enjoying a wide variety of human rights totally rests on having a safe, hygienic, sustainable environment, which includes clean air.
What happens on clean air day?
Clean Air Day produces widespread national and local news coverage. and is often used to focus attention on persistent environmental problems in towns and cities.
Increase public understanding about the importance of clean air for health, productivity, the economy, and the environment at all levels of society: individual, community, corporate, and governmental. Show how air quality is linked to other environmental and development challenges, such as climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.
Promote and assist in the implementation of methods that improve air quality by providing practical knowledge, industry best practices, creative ideas, and inspirational stories. Promote the implementation of effective policies at all levels to help enhance the quality of the air.
Establish a strategic alliance to improve cooperation amongst diverse international players interested in resolving air quality issues. The goal of this cooperative initiative is to create an impetus for coordinated national, regional, and global measures to ensure efficient air quality regulation. We can all work together to build a cleaner, healthier environment for present and future generations by bringing together a variety of actors.
Why is clean air important?
Breathing clean air can lessen the possibility of disease from stroke, heart disease, lung cancer as well as chronic and acute respiratory illnesses such as asthma. Lower levels of air pollution are better for heart and respiratory health both long- and short-term.
Everyone benefits greatly from cleaner air because it has a substantial impact on many areas of our lives, including our skin health, daily functioning, sleep quality, and lung health. The omnipresent impact of air quality is multifaceted, touching different facets of our daily lives.
Four people explore the wide-ranging effects of air quality on our daily lives in an intriguing talk. They put light on the ways in which the air we breathe directly affects our respiratory health, sleep habits, general performance, and even the quality of our skin. The talk covers the different ways that the state of the air can affect our health, underlining the significance of raising awareness and taking action as a collective.
As these people delve into the tangible implications of poor air quality in our daily lives, the topic naturally turns to suggested fixes and enhancements. They add to the current discourse about making the environment healthier and cleaner for everyone by frankly confronting the problem and thinking through potential solutions. They support efforts that can improve the quality of the air we all share because they understand the complex effects of air quality.
Why is International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies?
This International Day of Clean Air for blue skies aims to build a global community of action that encourages countries to work together to tackle air pollution to ensure clean air for all.
Children and older people are disproportionately hurt by air pollution, which has a disproportionate effect on these vulnerable groups. Ecosystems also suffer the most from this natural disaster. The direct contribution of certain air pollutants to the climate problem highlights the interconnectedness between air quality and climate change. In addition to safeguarding public health, reducing air pollution is important for slowing down climate change.
The International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, which is in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, underscores how important it is to reduce air pollution in order to meet the Sustainable Development Goals. This multinational project intends to build a community of action that fosters international cooperation in the battle against air pollution. The goal is to cooperate in order to guarantee that everyone has access to clean air.
This International Day encourages cooperation on a personal, governmental, regional, and global scale by making a forum for cooperation. It underlines the need for a shared commitment to cleaner air and a healthy world and functions as a catalyst for coordinated actions to mitigate air pollution.
The United Nations has classified air cleaning as one of its key sustainable development goals due to the growing worldwide worry over air pollution. International Clean Air Day is a global movement that was formed out of the urgent need to persuade people to take action against air pollution. This event is a forceful call to action, asking people all across the world to do their part to reduce air pollution.
Everyone is welcome to join the International Clean Air Day event, which encourages a sense of shared responsibility. People can actively participate in this initiative by embracing sustainable lifestyle choices and cutting back on carbon emissions, two actions that lessen their impact on the environment. Another key choice to contribute is by giving to NGOs that advocate environmental preservation and better air quality.
Through the uniting of people globally around a shared cause, International Clean Air Day empowers everyone to take a proactive approach to tackling the challenges created by air pollution. In addition to promoting the UN’s sustainable development goals, this collaborative effort raises knowledge around the world of the value of sustaining air quality for the welfare of people and the environment.
