What actions should we take to improve the air quality we share?

Cleaning air is very important for human health and daily life. It is aware that air pollution is the largest environmental risk facing human health and one of the major causes of the world's main death and disease. The impact of air pollution on women, children and the elderly is particularly serious, and it also has a negative impact on the ecosystem. The 74th UN General Assembly passed the resolution on December 19, 2019, and September 7th was designated as "International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies" each year.

China Biological Diversity Protection and Green Development Foundation (referred to as China Green Fair, Green Club) is the certification agency of the UN Environmental Planning Agency (UNEP). Recently, the International Department of the Green Club learned from UNEP: It is necessary to take action to improve the air quality we share. The International Department of the Green Club now compiles the statement as follows as a reference for interesting readers.

Picture source: UNEP

The 3rd International Clean Air Blue Sky emphasizes the importance of cleaning air and the urgency of taking action to improve air quality and protecting human health. It commemorates September 7, 2022. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 99%of people in the world are now breathing air. Air pollution is the greatest environmental threat to human health, causing 7 million people to die prematurely each year.

The theme of this year is the air we share. It focuses on the cross -border nature of air pollution, and also emphasizes collective accountability through global, regional and local cooperation.

"The air pollution does not distinguish between the borders, affects all of us, and people living in low-income and middle-income countries bear most of it." SHEILA Aggarwal-Khan ) Said, "The only way to alleviate this problem on health and economic impact is to take collective actions, including strengthening international cooperation; collecting and sharing data and research and improving public awareness."

According to a report from the World Bank, in 2021, air pollution caused $ 8.1 trillion in medical care costs, equivalent to 6.1%of global GDP. Some major driving factors of air pollution include fossil fuels used for combustion for energy and transportation, traditional fuel used for combustion for family cooking, and emissions produced by agriculture and waste.

2.4 billion people are exposed to family air pollution at a dangerous level, because they use solid fuels such as kerosene, wood, animal feces, and crop waste to cook on bright or unsafe stoves. The WHO found that 3.8 million people died of family air pollution every year. Women and young children are the most vulnerable. Nearly half of children under the age of 5 are due to family air pollution.

Picture: Air pollution in Mexico City

It is estimated that in 2016, outdoor pollution also caused 4.2 million people around the world to die prematurely due to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and cancer.

"Air pollution is a regional and global challenge, because air pollutants not only stay in the atmosphere for a long time, but can also play an important role in climate change." Climate and cleaning Martina Otto, head of the Secretariat of the Air Alliance (CCAC) Secretariat, said, "The right to clean, healthy and sustainable environment recognized by the United Nations Conference is a huge victory. Things -breathing -will not hurt us at the same time. "

With the increasing interest in cleaning air in the international community, the UN General Assembly designated international clean air in 2019, this event was supported by the United Nations Environment Agency. It emphasizes that it is necessary to deliberately strive to improve air quality to protect human health.

The theme of the event on September 7, 2020 was based on human rights "everyone enjoys clean air". Thousands of people from all over the world participated in the celebration. The event started with the then South Korean President Moon Jae -in, and the country led the world to work hard to create a new international day.

The second commemorative event was held in 2021. The theme is "Healthy Air, Healthy Planet", emphasizing the impact of air pollution on health. The Environment Office and its partners have announced the elimination of lead gasoline globally. This major achievement will prevent more than 1.2 million people from death and save $ 2.45 trillion each year.

Other methods to solve air pollution include steering renewable energy and modern biological energy, using cleaner cooking fuels, changing low -emission electric vehicles, transforming food systems, reducing garbage and crop combustion.

The climate and clean air alliance is a voluntary partnership between government, intergovernmental organization, enterprise, scientific institutions, and civilian social organizations convened by the UN Environment Agency. It is committed to improving air quality and protecting climate by reducing the actions of short -term climate pollutants.

To commemorate the International Clean Air Blue Sky, the alliance cooperates with partners and scientists to highlight achievements and promote regional actions on this cross -border issue.

On September 7 each year, the world celebrates the International Clean Air Day to welcome the blue sky.The day aims to improve awareness and promote the improvement of air quality.This is a global appeal to find new ways to do things, reduce the air pollution we cause, and ensure that everyone in each place can enjoy the right to breathe to clean the air.The theme of the third international blue sky clean air day promoted by the UN Environment Agency is "the air we share."For the original text:

https://www.unep.org/news-ndories/story/collective-action-iMProve-Quality-AIR-we-Share

Compilation: Lucy

Review: Little Tudou

Edit: Pierre

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