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International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies logo. UN/CCAC
Improving air quality is crucial as 99% of the world’s population is at risk from air pollution. Air pollution has negative short and long-term health effects, from hospitalization to premature deaths. The impact is much worse for infants as air pollution affects their health even before they are born. These impacts lower quality of life, increase society’s social care costs and decrease human productivity . Air pollution also harms our ecosystems, with many air pollutants directly contributing to climate change.
Air pollution is a public issue and requires our collective action.
The 2023 edition of UN International Day of Clean Air for blue skies with the theme, “Together for Clean Air”, emphasizes the urgent need for stronger partnerships and shared responsibility for overcoming air pollution. It calls for a collective effort to protect our atmosphere and ensure that everyone has access to clean air. To preserve public health and our ecosystems, air pollution policy must be integrated and coordinated across industries and borders, monitored by governments and sub-national bodies, and such government actions should be held accountable by the public.
This International Day, we call upon everyone, from governments and corporations to civil society and individuals to come #TogetherForCleanAir.
International Day of Clean Air for blue skies encourages countries to work together to combat air pollution and safeguard ecosystems. The day provides a platform for individual, national, regional, and worldwide cooperation. Visit the official campaign page to know more about the sources of air pollution, and other frequently asked questions about the UN Clean Air Day.
A short video that identifies five ways to address air pollution with features from the following SEI projects and tools – Indonesia UK-Pact, Fossil Fuel Transparency Platform, INGENIOUS, TR2AIL and SAMHE.
The 74th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) enacted a resolution designating 7 September as “International Day of Clean Air for blue skies” in 2019. The resolution emphasizes the significance and urgency of increasing public awareness at all levels and promoting and facilitating actions to improve air quality. Since then, the International Day of Clean Air for blue skies is observed to encourage governments, citizens, and businesses to join forces and act in providing solutions to reduce air pollutants and maintain clean air.
Perspective / Improving indoor air quality remains a global issue that requires collective action.
Perspective / Collective action is needed to improve air quality in Latin American and the Caribbean. This perspective highlights trends and priorities for the region.
Past event / SEI was at the 3rd International Forum on Transboundary Air Pollution on data science for air policies in Northeast Asia on UN Clean Air Day, 2023.
Past event / The International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies is an annual global event celebrated on September 7, to raise awareness about the importance of clean air.
Press release / To overcome air pollution, SEI, UNEP and Nakuru County call for stronger partnerships, increased investment and shared responsibility.
At SEI, Clean Air Day provides the opportunity to amplify the importance of clean air and the need for effective evidence-based air pollution regulations. Clean Air Day highlights the importance of addressing air pollutions effects in achieving sustainable development goals, promotes evidence-based policies, and encourages researchers, policymakers, businesses, and communities to work together to address air pollution.
Find below some of SEI actions for improved air quality in 2023.
For a comprehensive view, visit our topic page on air.
Journal article / Researchers found that African aerosol emissions reductions could positively impact rainfall changes in the region.
Journal article / Tackling road transport emissions through a variety of policies will help Kenya meet climate change goals, as well as improving air quality and health.
Journal article / Adopting citizen science methods, researchers used questionnaires and breathing tests to investigate the impact of air pollution on Nairobian schoolchildren.
SEI report / Policymakers should consider socio-economic and sociopolitical dimensions that mediate air pollution impacts, such as gender and how it intersects with factors.
SEI brief / Improving air quality and protection for workers in the grilled food sector means addressing the various dimensions of the impacts of grill smoke.
Journal article / This study evaluates the inclusion of SLCP and air pollutant mitigation within NDCs that were submitted between 2015 and 2022.
Journal article / This paper estimates the short-lived climate pollutant emission reductions from Costa Rica's decarbonization plan.
SEI brief / This brief examines the relationship between air-pollution exposure, socio-economic status, and working conditions in Bangkok; it urges related policy changes.
SEI brief / Four case studies are part of a larger study examining air pollution and workers' occupational exposures in southeast Asia.
SEI brief / A new study on air pollution and garment workers in Cambodia aims to influence policy and interventions to protect their health, with benefits across the board.
Journal article / This study used ongoing reflection diaries to evaluate research approaches and presented recommendations for future transdisciplinary work.
Media coverage / Chris Malley discusses the benefits of Zimbabwe's climate change mitigation efforts in The Conversation UK.
Press release / A sustainability and climate report by global retailer IKEA used a landmark guide which was developed by researchers from the Stockholm Environment Institute.
Media coverage / SEI Africa director Philp Osano told a policy dialogue on air quality management in Tanzania that over 900,000 death occur in Africa due to air pollution
Media coverage / The children's news programme visited a school where pupils were investigating their classroom's air quality using the SAMHE monitor and Web App.
Media coverage / Along with experts and representatives from the UK government, Dr Sarah West from SEI York contributed to a debate on indoor air quality.
Media coverage / Chris Malley and Syeda Hadika Jamshaid write about Pakistan’s first Clean Air Policy in an op-ed published in Pakistan's largest newspaper.
Press release / Dr Sarah West from SEI York joins a panel of experts to discuss indoor air pollution with representatives from the UK government.
Press release / The Schools' Air Quality Monitoring for Health and Education project launches to UK schools
Media coverage / In an article on Quartz, SEI Africa director Philip Osano speaks on the link between good air quality and sports while unveiling air quality sensor in Ethiopia.
Media coverage / Perhaps counterintuitively, some fossil-based cooking fuels are better for climate and health than the biomass fuels used by 2.4 billion people, research shows.
Media coverage / Bang Kachao is a target of developers leading to land use conflicts between commercial developers and environmental conservation groups.
Feature / SEI Asia’s new online learning modules on “air pollution and the world of work” aims to advance our understanding of the effects of air pollution.
Perspective / Countries' Nationally Determined Contributions provide a roadmap to take actions to achieve the aim of the Global Methane Pledge to reduce methane emissions.
Past event / This hybrid stakeholders’ validation workshop presents the draft National SLCP Action Plan for Kenya to stakeholders for review and feedback.
Past event / SEI York's Dr Rhys Archer presented the SAMHE project at the UK Institute for Air Quality Management (IAQM) forum on air pollution and childhood exposure.
Feature / Air pollution is a central research topic at SEI. This Clean Air Day UK, explore our latest research including monitoring indoor air in UK schools and homes.
Past event / Kenya signed a cooperation agreement with the CCAC on Supporting National Action and Planning Initiative to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants in Kenya.
Past event / This policy dialogue brings together stakeholders to discuss the status of air pollution and propose strategies to improve air quality in Tanzania.
Initiative / This initiative enables integrated national planning for Nationally Determined Contributions and Sustainable Development Goals.
Initiative / This initiative focuses on integrated analysis and planning for the mitigation of air pollution and greenhouse gases, including short-lived climate pollutants.
Tool / The Low Emissions Analysis Platform (LEAP) is a powerful, versatile system for energy planning and climate change mitigation assessment.
Tool / TR2AIL is an online tool that helps organizations and individuals track, report, reflect on, and take actions to reduce their travel-related emissions.
Initiative / The Carbon Lock-In Initiative seeks to uncover and address the barriers that uphold the fossil fuel-based economy.
Project / The purpose of this project is to support Dar-es-Salaam City Council by creating an estimate of current baseline air pollution characteristics in the city
Project / The project will increase the capacity of NEMA and the Uganda Ministry of Water and Environment to understand the major sources of SLCPs in the country
Initiative / This initiative investigates how rapidly growing cities affect residents' wellbeing and how this interacts with the overall health of city systems.
Project / A scientifically robust and policy-relevant framework to identify and assess priority measures that maximize the multiple-benefits for air quality and climate.
Project / The project will look at the impact of air pollution in the world of work, including worker productivity, and work quality and quantity.
Initiative / This initiative investigates how rapidly growing cities affect residents' wellbeing and how this interacts with the overall health of city systems.
Project / Accelerating low carbon transport policies and plans that meet the mobility needs of marginalized groups in Indonesia.
Project / Improving understanding about early life origins, burden, determinants, and prognostic significance of non-communicable lung disease in Kenya.
Project / A citizen science project monitoring indoor air, created with and for UK schools.
Project / This project investigates air pollutants inside homes in the city of Bradford, UK: their sources, interactions and health effects on those living there.
Project / Air pollution is a serious threat to the health of humans and ecosystems, yet is largely invisible and so out of the public consciousness.
Project / SEI works with research institutes to assess the impact of pollutants, besides CO₂, that drive climate change, and to develop climate change mitigation options.
Initiative / This initiative investigates how rapidly growing cities affect residents' wellbeing and how this interacts with the overall health of city systems.
Project / SEI works with research institutes to assess the impact of pollutants, besides CO₂, that drive climate change, and to develop climate change mitigation options.
Centre Director, SEI York
Reader / Research Leader, SEI York
Senior Research Fellow, SEI York
Centre Director, SEI Africa
Senior Press Officer, SEI Headquarters
Communications
Responsible for SEI’s media strategy and international media relations. Supports headquarters and regional centers with strategic press work.
Communications Specialist, SEI York
Communications
Victoria supports the York Centre's research projects and core communication activities. She is communications lead for the SAMHE project.
Senior Research Fellow, SEI York
Research Associate, SEI York
Senior Research Fellow, SEI Asia
Kadesiree Thossaphonpaisan
Research Associate, SEI York
Programme Leader, SEI Africa
Mike Ashmore
Tool / TR2AIL is an online tool that helps organizations and individuals track, report, reflect on, and take actions to reduce their travel-related emissions.
Tool / Trase permite a los gobiernos, empresas y otros abordar los impactos ambientales de las cadenas de suministro.
Initiative / This SEI initiative creates a platform for high-quality, timely and policy-relevant research and communications on various facets of fossil fuel development.
Press release / SEI authors, including SEI's Director and Research Director, make 11 recommendations to help return SDG implementation to the core in Nature Sustainability.
Perspective / Improving indoor air quality remains a global issue that requires collective action.
Press release / To overcome air pollution, SEI, UNEP and Nakuru County call for stronger partnerships, increased investment and shared responsibility.
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