The United Nations(UN)’s International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies is annually observed across the globe on 7th September to create awareness about the importance of healthy air and the effects of air pollution, one of the environmental threats, on humans health.
- 7th September 2021 commemorates the observance of the 2nd International Day of Clean Air for blue skies.
- The International Day of Clean Air for blue skies 2021 highlights the link between air pollution, human health and the environment.
- The official commemoration of the 2021 International Day of Clean Air for blue skies takes place in Nairobi, Kenya; New York, United States of America and Bangkok, Thailand.
The theme of the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies 2021 is “Healthy Air, Healthy Planet”.
Background:
i.The United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/74/212 on 19th December 2019 and proclaimed the 7th September 2021 of every year as the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies.
ii.The first-ever International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies was observed on 7th September 2020 under the theme “Clean Air for All”.
BreathLife Campaign:
i.The BreathLife Campaign aims to mobilize cities and individuals to protect our health and environment from the adverse effects of air pollution.
ii.The campaign is supported by the World Health Organization(WHO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Bank and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition.
Clear Air & Sustainable Development:
i.2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, recognises abatement of air pollution as an important factor to attain Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs).
ii.The outcome of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development titled “The Future we want” committed to promoting sustainable development policies that support healthy air quality in the context of sustainable cities and human settlements.
UNEP Report: European and Central Asian Actions on Air Quality:
The report titled “European and Central Asian Actions on Air Quality” by UNEP along with the IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute has been launched ahead of the International Day of clear air for blue skies.
Gist of the report:
i.The report states that the air quality levels are continuing to be recorded throughout Europe and Central Asia and the ammonia emissions are also increasing in all the sub-regions despite the efforts to control air pollution.
ii.The report states that the efforts to control air pollution picked up pace in some European countries, while some hotspots remained, especially in the western Balkans that includes Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo and Serbia.
iii.More than 60% of the population in these regions uses solid fuels (coal and firewood) to heat their homes.
iv.According to the study, the emission of most monitored air pollutants in Western, Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe has decreased between 2010 and 2017.
v.The emission-related to electricity, heat production and industries have decreased up to 20% in some countries in western and central Europe.
