More than 99 percent of people worldwide are now exposed to polluted air, resulting in over 8 million deaths annually, including more than 700,000 children under five, the UN has reported. The organization is calling for increased investment in clean air solutions.
The UN also estimates that the global economic damage from air pollution could be up to $8.1 trillion (Sh1,043 trillion – Quadrillion) per year. Despite this, less than 1 percent of international development funding is currently dedicated to addressing air pollution.
On the fifth annual International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized the severe impacts of air pollution on public health, the environment, and the economy.
“Dirty air disproportionately affects more vulnerable populations such as women, children, and older people, and has become the second leading risk factor for early death globally, overtaking tobacco for adults and second only to malnutrition for children under five,” Guterres stated in New York, ahead of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 79) starting tomorrow for the next 20 days.
Guterres highlighted that air pollution not only harms human health but also hampers economic growth and exacerbates climate change. “Pollution is choking economies and heating up the planet, adding fuel to the fire of the climate crisis,” he said.
In 2019, the UN General Assembly designated September 7 as a day to advocate for clean air. This year’s theme, led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), emphasizes the need to Invest in #CleanAirNow to secure a healthier and more prosperous future for both people and the planet.
“Investing in clean air requires actions by both government and businesses to phase out fossil fuels, strengthen air quality monitoring, enforce air quality standards, boost renewable energy, transition to clean cooking, build sustainable transport and waste management systems, clean up supply chains, and reduce harmful emissions, including methane,” the UN Secretary-General added.
In preparation for Clean Air Day, the UNEP-convened Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) launched Exchange- AQMx, a global air quality management platform, on September 5, 2024. This initiative responds to calls for enhanced regional knowledge sharing and action to improve air quality, which were highlighted during this year’s UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) talks.
