When: 7 September 2024
Where: Worldwide
Theme: Invest in #CleanAirNow
Visit the official campaign page for more information.
See also the UN observance page.
On November 26, 2019, the Second Committee of the 74th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly adopted a resolution designating 7 September as the “International Day of Clean Air for blue skies”. The resolution stresses the importance of, and urgent need to, raise public awareness at all levels and to promote and facilitate actions to improve air quality.
Held under the theme "Invest in #CleanAirNow", this year's observance emphasizes the urgent need for stronger partnerships, increased investment, and shared responsibility to combat air pollution. It is the second leading risk factor for death, causing around 8.1 million premature deaths annually from conditions such as stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.
Statistics help us grasp the magnitude of the issue: 99% of people worldwide breathe polluted air; air pollution was responsible for 8.1 million deaths in 2021, with over 90% associated with noncommunicable diseases; and more than 700,000 children under five deaths were from causes related to household and outdoor air pollution.
If we act now, we can halve global crop losses from air pollutants by 2050. Reducing emissions of methane, an important greenhouse gas and air pollutant, could save between $4 billion to $33 billion. The cost of inaction is staggering, with air pollution estimated to cost the global economy $8.1 trillion per year, equivalent to 6.1% of the global GDP due to increased healthcare costs.
