Air pollution is one of the biggest environmental threats to the right to health today, being responsible for 7 million premature deaths each year. Air pollutants also contribute directly to the climate crisis, endangering health and livelihoods of generations current and future.
The COVID-19 has further exposed the fragility of our societies and economies to shocks, highlighting the urgency of improving our relationship with nature. Early studies are projecting that air pollution increases the likelihood of succumbing to COVID-19, giving us yet another reason to urgently improve global air quality.
In October 2019, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 74/212, which established that 7 September will be marked as International Day of Clean Air for blue skies. The first celebration of the day will be 7 September 2020.
The aim of the day is to enhance international cooperation to attain clean air. It will provide a platform for strengthening global solidarity as well as political momentum for action against air pollution and climate change, including actions like collecting and utilizing data related to air pollution, conducting scientific research and sharing best practices.
The official theme of the Day for 2020 is Clean Air for All.
Speakers to include:
- H.E. Mr. Lee Wook-heon, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Thailand
- H.E. Mr. Varawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of Thailand
- Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, Former Secretary-General of the United Nations
- Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Executive Secretary of ESCAP
- Mr. Satya Tripathi, Assistant Secretary-General, UNEP
Moderators:
- Ms. Dechen Tsering, UNEP Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific
- Mr. Stefanos Fotiou,, Director, Environment and Development Division, ESCAP
Registration link: http://bit.ly/RegionalConv