Leave the car fleet and join a bicycle rally for WED!

The majority of the world’s population today now lives in cities. As the earth fast reaches a population of 7 billion, this leaves countries with tremendous challenges for sustainability, especially related to the management of natural resources.  

Rapid urbanization generates formidable environmental issues such as energy and water supply, sewage, solid waste, loss of green and natural spaces, land contamination, congestion and air pollution.

The need for urban transport probably has some of the most pervasive negative by-products, as increased traffic compounds the challenges of solid waste, congestion, rapid depletion of natural resources, noise and air pollution. UN-Habitat estimates that road transport accounts for up to 90% of urban air pollution.

India - the world’s second most populous nation – is this year’s host for World Environment Day. A big part of the air pollution in India is caused by vehicle emissions, mainly because of the high number of old vehicles, coupled with poor vehicle maintenance, inadequate infrastructure and low fuel quality.

Low air quality in metropolitan areas and megacities, like New Delhi or Mumbai, become a threat to people’s well-being. According to the World Health Organization, only 15% of the largest cities in developing countries have acceptable air quality. Poor air quality is related to approximately three million deaths each year.

Taking the economic aspect of pollution into account, urban air pollution is estimated to cost approximately 2% of GDP in developed countries and 5% in developing countries like India.

These facts emphasize the need to act towards sustainable mobility and to reduce the impacts of air pollution on cities and the environment. UNEP promotes the integration of environmental considerations into transport related decisions at both political and personal level. This includes initiatives to reduce vehicle emissions, promote cleaner fuel and the global lead phase-out from gasoline and petrol.

Likewise, Humanity Foundation, a small NGO working in the field of environment and based in the district of Maharashtra, is demonstrating how we as individuals can contribute to reduce urban air pollution and the fleet of cars in the streets by getting around town in a sustainable way – on a bicycle!

For the second time on World Environment Day, 5 June, Humanity Foundation is organizing a Mega Bicycle Rally around Mumbai, to draw attention to the changes we all can make to lower air pollution and green our cities – bicycles are both cheap and clean!

Why not join a bicycle rally for WED this year? Experience your city’s clean air without adding to the pollution by using sustainable transportation - your bicycle!