Air pollution is a silent crisis, as lethal as it is pervasive. It affects millions of people around the world but does the most damage to the health and the environment of those living in the Global South. This year, to mark the UN ENvironment Program's International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, Greenpeace East Asia's Clean Air Unit is highlighting the severe health impacts of air pollution and the positive steps global communities are taking to quantify and combat the problem.
A public health emergency right before our eyes
Air pollution is a profound public health emergency. Even without accidents, fossil-fuelled air pollution inflicts daily harm as the everyday operation of fossil fuel power stations and transport consistently endangers human health and the environment.
In regions such as Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, millions of people breathe hazardous air every minute of every day, leading to severe health issues and early deaths. For instance, nearly all (99.9%) people in Southeast Asia live in areas where air pollution exceeds World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, with this pollution cutting average life expectancy by 1.5 years.
Moreover, many cities in these regions exceed WHO guidelines for particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) by a significant margin. 37 of the world's 40 most polluted cities are located in Southeast Asia, while in the Eastern Mediterranean region, cities often exceed WHO guidelines by more than 2000 percent or more. This widespread air pollution results in millions of premature deaths annually, according to the WHO, predominantly due to respiratory diseases and cardiovascular problems.
Get involved and breath easy
This Clean Air Day, we invite you to join our "Breathe Easy" campaign. We are calling on everyone to share images that capture their vision of clean air and blue skies. Show us what clean air means to you, whether it's a child playing in a park, a serene landscape, or a bustling street without the haze of pollution. Use the hashtags #CleanAirDay and invest in #CleanAirNow to amplify our collective voice.
By participating, you are helping raise awareness about perhaps the most widespread health crisis of our time. If we all work together, we can put a lid on air pollution, ensuring a healthier and more just future for all.
