Activation across the Americas: International Clean Air Day for blue skies 2023

Name: Activation across the Americas: International Clean Air Day for blue skies 2023
Start: 2023-09-07
End: 2023-09-07

7 September 2023

Overview

About the activation

Further Resources

The key number: 99 per cent of the world's population is breathing air that does not meet the health standards set by WHO. Experts say we must act urgently to preserve people's health and well-being, which is why collective action is urgent. This fourth International Day of Clean Air for blue skies, which will take place on 7 September, appealing for everyone to get involved in this global effort: Together for Clean Air focuses on the need for solid partnerships, increased investments, and shared responsibility to overcome air pollution.

Many air pollutants that affect our health, such as short-lived climate pollutants, also warm the atmosphere. Thus, the steps we take to improve the air quality, such as transitioning to cleaner transportation and energy solutions, eliminating open waste burning, and better management control and management, will also help us address the climate emergency.

In this context, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Latin America and the Caribbean regional office and North American regional office are partnering with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) to host an activation to recognize Clean Air Day 2023. It will serve to highlight the importance of science and communities working together to fulfill the 2030 Agenda which defends the right to a healthy environment, specifically as it relates to the quality of the air we share.

We invite academic institutions, governments, and civil society organizations doing citizen science (Canada, Costa Rica, Colombia, Chile, Panama, Mexico, United States, and other TBCs) to make air quality measurements, on September 7, in public places and share their results and measurement technologies in real-time.

Which parameters will be measured: concentration of particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5, i.e., fine particles smaller than 10 and 2.5 microns in size). For that day, we propose that the community understands why it is relevant to know concepts such as particulate matter and why a high presence of fine particles in the air, even if we do not see them with the naked eye, seriously affects our health causing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, in addition to other effects widely documented by the World Health Organization.

The invitation is addressed to environment and health authorities, partner institutions and organizations to conduct, on 7 September, air quality measurements in a public space, for example, public squares, and inform passersby about the activity and the effect air pollution exposure has on health. The photos will be shared using the unifying hashtag, and since it is an interagency activity, we will use ours and our partners' dissemination channels.

To share with us the air quality measurements and measurement technologies in real-time, please tag us according to your location and use these hashtags:

UNEP Media Channels in North America:

Twitter: @UNEP_NAmerica

Facebook: @UNEnvironmentNA

UNEP Media Channels in Latin America and the Caribbean:

Twitter: @UNEP_LatAm

Facebook: @UNEPLatAm

UNEP LAC LinkedIn

Channels of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation:

Twitter: @CECweb

Facebook: @CECconnect

Instagram: @cecnorthamerica/

English: #WorldCleanAirDay, #TogetherForCleanAir

This day invites us all to examine how we can support actions in favor of clean air in our countries, cities, and companies, and make changes in our daily lives. Thus, we invite you:

To read and disseminate the Day of Clean Air Practical Guide for this year and the hashtag #TogetherForCleanAir
To learn more about the campaign and the actions that UNEP and PAHO are taking.
To track key inputs to understand the regional and global situations.

The air we breath is a right, PAHO TV

Clean Air: You are part of the solution!, PAHO TV