- The world celebrated its first-ever International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies on September 7.
- Part of a resolution taken by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on December 19, 2019, the day intends to emphasize on the ill-effects of air pollution and is a call to action against the environmental evil.
- As per the United Nations, polluted air has a profound impact on both, the health of humans and the environment.
- From increasing the risk of lung cancer to causing permanent damage to the environment, air pollution is an evil that should not be overlooked.
- A UN report has revealed that as many as 6.5 million premature deaths that took place across the globe were a result of exposure to air pollution.
- Air pollution is a global issue that affects everyone breathing on the planet.
- The number of lives claimed by air pollution is expected to double by the year 2050.
- The International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies was introduced to acknowledge the threats posed by air pollution and to encourage every country in the world to take preventive measures.
- The day emphasises the need to improve air quality for long-term benefits for humankind.
- Countries pledged to promote and support sustainable development in “The future we want”, an outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.
- The UN also came up with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which is a resolution comprising 17 goals and 169 targets for countries.
- Under the header ‘Planet’ mentioned in the Agenda, the document reads,
- “We are determined to protect the planet from degradation, including through sustainable consumption and production, sustainably managing its natural resources and taking urgent action on climate change, so that it can support the needs of the present and future generations”.
