International News
HEALTHY AIR , HEALTHY PLANET
By UNEP
Background image by : Unsplash | Chandan Chaurasia
This was the 2021 theme for the international day of clean air for blue skies which emphasises the health aspects of air pollution , especially considering the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic .
This year ’ s focus was on prioritising the need for healthy air for all , while keeping the conversation broad enough to encompass other critical issues such as climate change , human and planetary health as well as the sustainable development goals . The day essentially serves as a rallying call to action to align efforts to all inhabitants ’ rights to clean air .
A TWO-FOLD PROBLEM
• Health impact : tiny , invisible particles of pollution penetrate deep into our lungs , bloodstream and bodies . These pollutants are responsible for about one-third of deaths from stroke , chronic respiratory disease , and lung cancer , as well as one quarter of deaths from heart attack . Ground-level ozone , produced from the interaction of many different pollutants in sunlight , is also a cause of asthma and chronic respiratory illnesses .
• Climate impact : short-lived climate pollutants ( SLCPs ) are among those pollutants most linked with both health effects and near-term warming of the planet . They persist in the atmosphere for as little as a few days or up to a few decades , so reducing them can have an almost immediate health and climate benefits for those living in places where levels fall .
REDUCING AIR POLLUTION TO IMPROVE AIR QUALITY Аir pollution is the single greatest environmental risk to human health and one of the main avoidable causes of death and disease globally , with some estimated 6.5 million premature deaths across the world attributed to indoor and outdoor air pollution .
Particularly in developing countries , air pollution disproportionately affects women , children , and the elderly , especially in low-income populations as they are often exposed to high levels of ambient air pollution and indoor air pollution from cooking and heating with wood fuel and kerosene .
Аir pollution is a global problem with far-reaching impacts owing to its transport over long distances . In the absence of aggressive intervention , the number of premature deaths resulting from ambient air pollution is estimated to be on track to increase by more than 50 per cent by 2050 .
Society bears a high cost of air pollution due to the negative impacts on the economy , work productivity , healthcare costs and tourism , among others . Hence , the economic benefits of investing in air pollution control cannot be overestimated , and it must be understood that there is also an economic rationale to act and that cost-effective solutions exist to address air pollution .
Poor air quality is a challenge in the context of sustainable development for all countries , particularly in cities and urban areas in developing countries , with levels of air pollution that are higher than the limits set out in the World Health Organisation ’ s air quality guidelines .
Some air pollutants , such as black carbon , methane , and ground-level ozone , are also short-lived climate pollutants and are responsible for a significant portion of air pollution-related deaths , as well as impacts on crops and hence food security , so their reduction has co-benefits for the climate .
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF CLEAN AIR FOR BLUE SKIES UN member states recognise the need to substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air , water and soil pollution and contamination by 2030 , as well as to reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities , including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management by 2030 .
Today , the international community acknowledges that improving air quality can enhance climate change mitigation and that climate change mitigation efforts can improve air quality .
Encouraged by the increasing interest of the international community in clean air , and emphasising the need to make further efforts to improve air quality , including reducing air pollution , to protect human health , the General Assembly decided to designate 7 September as the International Day of Clean Air for blue skies .
In the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development , entitled " The future we want ," countries committed to promoting sustainable development policies that support healthy air quality in the context of sustainable cities and human settlements . Also , the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development , which outlines a road map to achieving sustainable development , environmental protection and prosperity for all , recognises that air pollution abatement is important to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals . RACA
www . hvacronline . co . za RACA Journal I November 2021 9