The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) strengthens global solidarity and political momentum for action to improve air quality.
Through initiatives such as the International Day of Clean Air for blue skies, Beat Pollution and Breathe Life, UNEP and its partners seek to raise awareness of the importance of clean air. UNEP bolsters scientific evidence, improves data quality, and provides tools to help governments, the private sector, and communities to make informed decisions and take actions for clean air, health, and livelihoods.
Resources:
- International Day of Clean Air for blue skies, observed on September 7 since 2019, offers a platform to encourage global collaboration to fight air pollution and preserve ecosystems, emphasizing the importance of improving air quality for human and environmental well-being at all levels: individual, national, regional and international. Explore this practical Guide on Clean Air for blue skies and how to claim your right for clean air (video).
- The Beat Pollution campaign builds on a larger narrative for a pollution-free planet, by linking climate, nature and different pollution streams. Tasked by the UN Environment Assembly, UNEP coordinates "Towards a Pollution-Free Planet," a plan to eradicate all pollution by 2030, focusing on improved chemical and waste management for human and environmental health and increasing circular processes.
- Breathe Life is a global campaign, led by World Health Organization (WHO), UNEP and the Climate & Clean Air Coalition (CCAC). It calls on governments - city, regional and national - to commit to achieving WHO Air Quality Guidelines by 2030. Reducing air pollution to levels deemed safe by the WHO will halve the number of air pollution related deaths by 2030, while at the same time helping to slow the rate of climate change.
