International Day of Clean Air for blue skies New York UNHQ Commemoration

Air pollution causes approximately 7 million premature deaths annually, making it the single greatest environmental risk to human health and one of the main avoidable causes of death and disease globally. The International Day of Clean Air for blue skies was designated 7 September by the United Nations General Assembly in 2019, the first Day was held in 2020. The theme for the second International Day of Clean Air for blue skies is “Healthy Air, Healthy Planet”.

This year's celebration in New York is co-organized by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC).

The event presents an opportunity to:

• Discuss the key role air pollution plays in people’s health, including children
• Demonstrate multiple benefits of improving air quality
• Discuss how industry’s actions contribute to mitigating air pollution
• Raise awareness and facilitate actions to improve air quality, thereby contributing to the global development agenda.

Speakers

• Ligia Noronha, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the UNEP New York Office
• Video message by H.E. Volkan Bozkir, President of the General Assembly
• Message by Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General
• Video message by Inger Andersen, UNEP Executive Director
• Monika MacDevette, Chief, Chemicals & Health, Economy Division, UNEP
• Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, WHO advocate for health and air quality and co-founder of the Ella Roberta Family Foundation
• Henry Garay Sarasti, Executive Director, Environmental Business Corporation (CAEM), Commerce Chamber of Bogota
• Desmond Appiah, Programme Manager for the C40 African Cities for Clean Air Programme
• H. E. Cho Hyun, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations

Official commemorations of the second International Day of Clean Air for blue skies will take place in Nairobi, New York and Bangkok.