On the seventh International Day of Clean Air for blue skies, it’s time to race against air pollution action, build multistakeholder partnerships, and embrace our shared responsibility to address air pollution.
In the lead-up to #CleanAirDay, we're featuring updates from the United Nations System, partners, and others helping to highlight the urgent need for solutions to air pollution and its severe impacts on human health, climate, biodiversity, ecosystems, and overall quality of life.
What are the economic benefits of tackling air pollution?
Can air pollution increase the risk of dementia?
Check out our Frequently Asked Questions, answering 25 common questions about air pollution and how to improve air quality, with insights from scientists around the world.
The 12 youth leaders from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Kazakhstan participated in a Clean Air Day workshop, “From Zero Waste to Clean Air: A Youth Dialogue on Circular Solutions,” in Tokyo to explore the links between waste management, air pollution and public health through interactive discussions and group activities.
Participants examined real-world challenges related to waste and air pollution, developed solution pitches based on circular economy approaches, and created advocacy messages calling for cleaner air and zero-waste actions. The workshop strengthened participants’ capacity as youth advocates for sustainable change.
The workshop was organized by UNEP-IETC to celebrate Clean Air Day as part of the Rise Young Leaders Summit Japan 2026 on 8 September 2026.
Air pollution is taking a devastating toll on lives & economies.
The case for action has never been clearer.
Reducing air pollution protects health, boosts productivity & builds more resilient & prosperous societies.#CleanAirDay pic.twitter.com/sOHXtV18g7— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) September 7, 2026
NEMA LAUNCHES REAL-TIME AIR QUALITY MONITORING SYSTEM
To mark the International Day of Clean Air for blue skies, @nemaug has, Monday 7th September, launched equipment providing real-time air quality data within a 6km radius of NEMA House in Kampala. The installation will serve as… pic.twitter.com/0rv9Q1VzyS— National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) (@nemaug) September 7, 2026
The latest WMO Air Quality and Climate Bulletin explores how climate change and air pollution interact. From heat driving ground-level ozone to wildfires increasing particulate pollution, find out what these connections mean for the air we breathe.
The roundtable “Clean Air: The Way Forward”, held at the Green University in Tashkent, featured discussions on Uzbekistan’s significant expansion of automatic air-quality monitoring since 2022, including the establishment of a national network of 28 automated stations, as well as plans to further strengthen monitoring.
Participants also welcomed the adoption of the nationwide “Clean Air” Project for 2026–2030. The National Committee emphasized that the country’s next priority is to move from monitoring towards implementing concrete measures to reduce air pollution.
The event, organized by the Zamin Foundation, brought together representatives of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, UNEP, UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the Embassy of Japan, the Finnish Meteorological Institute, the World Bank and other partners.
Policymakers, scientists and experts from across Northeast Asia discussed innovative solutions to advance integrated air quality management during the Blue Sky Symposium in Seoul. The event was organized by the UN Environment Programme, the National Air Emission Inventory and Research Center of the Republic of Korea, the Secretariat of the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET) and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
Discussions included an analysis of how AI can improve pollution monitoring and forecasting. The full symposium recording is available here.
China marked the 2026 International Day of Clean Air for blue skies with a high-level event in Beijing, bringing together representatives from the United Nations, government agencies, research institutions, cities and youth groups.
The event also launchd the first-ever China Clean Air Week, creating a platform for dialogue on air quality, climate, energy and health. Participants highlighted China’s progress in air pollution control, the economic and health benefits of clean air action, and the importance of accelerating integrated solutions for cleaner air and a sustainable future.
