Humans are both creatures and moulders of their environment, which gives them physical sustenance and affords them the opportunity for intellectual, moral, social and spiritual growth. In the long and tortuous evolution of the human race on this planet, a stage has been reached where, through the rapid acceleration of science and technology, humans have acquired the power to transform their environment in countless ways and on an unprecedented scale.
The United Nations, aware that the protection and improvement of the human environment is a major issue, which affects the well-being of peoples and economic development throughout the world, designated June 5 as World Environment Day.
The celebration of this day provides us with an opportunity to broaden the basis for an enlightened opinion and responsible conduct by individuals, enterprises, and communities in preserving and enhancing the environment. Since it began in 1974, it has grown to become a global platform for public outreach that is widely celebrated in more than 100 countries.
“Beat Air Pollution”
Each World Environment Day is organised around a theme that focuses attention on a particularly pressing environmental concern. The theme for 2019, “Beat Air Pollution”, is a call to action to combat this global crisis. Chosen by this year’s host, China, this year’s topic invites us all to consider how we can change our everyday lives to reduce the amount of air pollution we produce, and thwart its contribution to global warming and its effects on our own health.
What causes air pollution?
Understanding the different types of pollution, and how it affects our health and environment will help us take steps towards improving the air around us. Often you can’t even see it, but air pollution is everywhere. We can’t stop breathing, but we can do something about the quality of our air. Nine out of 10 people worldwide are exposed to levels of air pollutants that exceed safe levels set by the World Health Organisation. There is little doubt – we are faced with an urgent task.
A platform for action, World Environment Day is the UN day for encouraging worldwide awareness and action to protect our environment.
Above all, World Environment Day is the “people’s day” for doing something to take care of the Earth. That “something” can be local, national, or global. It can be a solo action or involve a crowd. Everyone is free to choose.
Each World Environment Day is organised around a theme that draws attention to a particularly pressing environmental concern. Each World Environment Day has a different host country, where the official celebrations take place. The focus on the host country helps highlight the environmental challenges it faces and supports worldwide efforts to address them.
Nine out of 10 people worldwide breathe polluted air and air pollution causes some seven million premature deaths annually. This high rate of exposure to air pollutants is “lowering life expectancy and damaging economies across the planet,” says the UN Secretary General in his message for World Environment Day (June 5). Many air pollutants (for example: black carbon, ozone and methane) are not only harmful when inhaled but also contribute to global warming.
Tackling air pollution, therefore, presents a double opportunity to clean the air and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by phasing out coal-fired power plants and promoting less polluting industry, transport and domestic fuels. World Environment Day this year focuses on action to #BeatAirPollution.
United Nations Secretary General’s Message
The theme for this year’s World Environment Day is Beat Air Pollution. All around the world – from megacities to small villages – people are breathing dirty air. An estimated nine out of 10 people worldwide are exposed to air pollutants that exceed World Health Organisation air quality guidelines. This is lowering life expectancy and damaging economies across the planet.
To improve air quality, we must know our enemy. Deaths and illnesses from air pollution are caused by tiny particles that penetrate our defences every time we fill our lungs. These particles come from many sources: the burning of fossil fuels for power and transport; the chemicals and mining industries; the open burning of waste; the burning of forests and fields; and the use of dirty indoor cooking and heating fuels, which are major problems in the developing world.
This polluted air kills some seven million people each year, causes long-term health problems, such as asthma, and reduces children’s cognitive development. According to the World Bank, air pollution costs societies more than US$5 trillion every year.
Many air pollutants also cause global warming. Black carbon is one such example. Produced by diesel engines, burning trash and dirty cookstoves, it is extremely harmful when inhaled. Reducing emissions of such pollutants will not only improve public health, it could alleviate global warming by up to 0.5 degrees Celsius over the next few decades.
Tackling air pollution, therefore, presents a double opportunity, as there are many successful initiatives that both clear the air and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as phasing out coal-fired power plants and promoting less polluting industry, transport, and domestic fuels. With investments in renewable energy sources outstripping those in fossil fuels every year, the rise of clean energy is helping globally. Cleaner transport is also growing around the world.
It is in such initiatives, designed to improve air quality and fight climate change, that hope lies. I urge everyone attending the Climate Action Summit that I am convening in September to draw motivation from such examples. There is no reason why the international community cannot act. Precedent exists in the Montreal Protocol. Scientists identified a grave threat to public and planetary health, and Governments and businesses acted to successfully protect the ozone layer.
Today, we face an equally urgent crisis. It is time to act decisively. My message to Governments is clear: tax pollution; end fossil fuel subsidies; and stop building new coal plants. We need a green economy not a grey economy.
On World Environment Day, I ask each of us to act so we can breathe more easily. From pressuring politicians and businesses to changing our own habits, we can reduce pollution and beat climate change.
