International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies 2023

The International Day of Clean Air for blue skies is commemorated annually on 7 September in recognition of the fact that clean air is important for the health and day-to-day lives of people, while air pollution is the single greatest environmental risk to human health and one of the main avoidable causes of death and disease globally.

International Day of Clean Air for blue skies, Theme

The fourth annual International Day of Clean Air for blue skies will focus on the theme, ‘Together for Clean Air’. The theme aims to highlight the urgent need for stronger partnerships, increased investment, and shared responsibility for overcoming air pollution. It also underscores the direct impact of air pollution on human and ecosystem health and the shared responsibility to protect the atmosphere and ensure healthy air for everyone.

International Day of Clean Air for blue skies, Significance

According to WHO, almost everyone (99 % of the global population) breathes polluted air. The transboundary nature of air pollution calls for local, national, regional, and global partnerships to tackle the problem. This year’s theme highlights that it is time to invest, work together, and contribute to clean air. Collaboration with UN member states, development organizations, international and regional organizations, the private sector, and civil society is crucial to reducing pollution and improving air quality.

Everyone has a part to play in cleaning our air and protecting our health, and everyone can benefit from it: a safe, clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, including clean air, is integral to the full enjoyment of a wide range of human rights.

International Day of Clean Air for blue skies, History

On November 26, 2019, the Second Committee of the 74th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly adopted a resolution designating 7 September as the “International Day of Clean Air for blue skies”. The resolution stresses the importance of, and urgent need to, raise public awareness at all levels and to promote and facilitate actions to improve air quality.

By resolution 74/212 of 22 January 2020, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) designated the Day to emphasize the need to make further efforts to improve air quality, including reducing air pollution, to protect human health.

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