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On the fourth International Day of Clean Air for blue skies, it’s time to build multistakeholder partnerships, bolster investment and embrace our shared responsibility to address air pollution. Let us come #TogetherForCleanAir.

In the lead up to the fourth #WorldCleanAirDay, we're featuring updates from United Nations System, partners and others helping to call attention to the severe detrimental impacts of air pollution on human health, climate, biodiversity and ecosystems, and quality of life in general.

 

Kids ask climate questions

Screenshot of kids ask climate questions
Connect4Climate

Kids Ask Climate Questions is a great series from Connect4Climate where kids ask climate experts the big questions.

This episode sees a nine-year old from the USA ask UNEP's communications officer Laura Fuller a question about air pollution. You can watch the video here.

Collaboration helps tackle air pollution in Latin America and Caribbean

Aerial view of rainforest
UNEP

This year’s International Day of Clean Air for blue skies features a call for collective action to tackle air pollution, which claims almost 7 million lives a year.

A key part of that process, say experts, is creating solid partnerships, increasing regional cooperation and boosting investments to make the world’s air cleaner.

UNEP has been leveraging those principles to help the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean counter air pollution, which remains a serious issue in the region.

UNEP activities in support of the region's countries include capacity building for comprehensive and effective air quality management through working sessions with experts and facilitating the exchange of experiences between countries.

Read the rest of the story here.

Inside the data: Air Pollution Action Note

Graphic visualisation of pollution data
UNEP

Data around air pollution can often be complex, but UNEP’s Pollution Action Note displays the global state of air pollution, major sources, the impact on human health, and national efforts to tackle this critical issue, in easy to understand visuals.

Explore the data here.

Europe suffering from poor air quality

Aerial view of Athens
Unsplash/Ivan Karpov

98 per cent of people in Europe are breathing polluted air according to new findings from DW and the European Data Journalism Network, which analysed satellite data from the Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service (CAMS).

Some part of Europe are better than others, with the Po Valley in Italy, Athens, Barcelona and Paris affected worse than most. Yet 98 per cent of the population across Europe are breathing air more polluted than World Health Organisation guidelines.

Read the full article here.

Regional coalitions offer air pollution hope

Aerial view of rivers
AFP

Over the past few decades, countries all over the world have begun joining together to foster cooperation and mitigate the dangerous effects of transboundary air pollution. From Southeast Asia to the African continent and even the Arctic, more and more nations are joining together to address this shared emergency – so that now today 95 per cent of the Earth’s population is covered by air pollution-specific regional agreements, sparking hope for action to clean the air we all breathe.

Read the full article here.

How is air quality measured?

Map of air quality data
UNEP

How exactly do we measure the quality of air? The technology differs depending where the air is being monitored. Some air quality monitors are outfitted with sensors designed to detect specific pollutants. Some use lasers to scan particulate matter density in a cubic metre of air, while others rely on satellite imaging to measure energy reflected or emitted by the Earth.

Read the full story here.

Silent killer: why children are uniquely vulnerable to air pollution

A baby being carried
UNEP

To mark Clean Air for blue skies, UNICEF has released a video explaining why children are uniquely vulnerable to air pollution and extreme heat.

You can watch the full video here.

Starting Soon: Clean Air Commemoration at United Nations

UN HQ
Unsplash/Daryam Shamkali

The United Nations is marking International Day of Clean Air for blue skies at its New York headquarters at 10:30am local time today.

Starting soon: Clean Air Day Webinar

event flyer

An estimated 40 per cent of global waste is openly burned in landfills, backyards and other places. These fires drive climate change and release a toxic combination of pollutants into the air, contributing to more than 1 million deaths worldwide each year.

This webinar will explore how the world can eliminate the open burning of waste, drawing experiences from across India and Africa. Sign up for free access now. 

Formula E aiming to change perception of electric vehicles

 

Air pollution
FIA Formula E

FIA Formula E aims to transfer technology from race track to road and inspire innovation –accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles to drive the race for clean air forward.

Formula E – the world's first electric motorsports brand – is also advocating the global adoption of clean mobility by enhancing technologies, working with cities to improve infrastructure and raise awareness of the benefits of electric vehicles, which is one of the most effective means of tackling urban air pollution.

Formula E partnered with UNEP in 2017 and has continued to raise awareness on the impacts of air pollution.

Read more here