World Environment Day 2019 - A practical guide for Individuals, Cities, Governments, Schools & Universities, Businesses, Civil society - IUCN
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World Environment Day 2019
#BeatAirPollution
A practical guide for Individuals, Cities,
Governments, Schools & Universities,
Businesses, Civil society
World Environment Day Guide
#BeatAirPollution
On 5 June 2019, World Environment What is air pollution oceans, making it harder for plants
Day will be on the theme of air and why does it matter to grow and contributing to climate
pollution— a call to action to combat change. But the good news is that air
one of the greatest environmental to me? pollution is preventable. Solutions are
challenges of our time. Hosted by Nine out of 10 people worldwide known and can be implemented. The
China, World Environment Day invites breathe polluted air. Air pollution world needs to act now.
us all to consider how we can make is identified as the most important
changes in our daily lives to reduce health issue of our time, causing 1 in
air pollution, which in turn can reduce 9 deaths globally and an estimated
greenhouse gas emissions and 7 million premature deaths every
benefit people’s health too. China has year. Apart from causing respiratory
demonstrated tremendous leadership diseases, air pollution is a major
in tackling air pollution domestically cause of heart attacks, lung cancer
and its commitment to improve air and stroke in people. Air pollution
quality can serve as an inspiration to also harms our natural environment,
countries around the world. decreasing the oxygen supply in our
www.worldenvironmentday.global
What are the different
#BeatAirPollution
sources of air
pollution? 2. Transport — fine particulate matter, 4. Industry — large amounts of carbon
ozone, black carbon and nitrogen monoxide, hydrocarbons, particulate
The five main sources of air pollution dioxide are all linked to emissions matter, and chemicals are released
are all man-made and can be averted from the global transport sector. into the air by industries.
through good policies and practices. Vehicle emissions resulted in 400,000
premature deaths a year, and costed
approximately $1 trillion in health
damages.
5. Waste — carbon dioxide, methane,
particulate matter, and other toxins
are all released in waste burning.
1. Agriculture — Methane, produced Open burning of waste is especially
by agricultural processes and cows, 3. Households — pollutants, such as associated with the emission of
contributes to ground-level ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, persistent organic pollutants, which
causing asthma and other respiratory lead and mercury are the main types enter the food chain.
illnesses. It is also a powerful of household air pollution. These
greenhouse gas, contributing to global are emitted from polluting fuels,
warming. At the same time, open open burning or unvented and low-
burning to clear fields and land is a performing heating and cooking
leading contributor of black carbon stoves. Indoor air pollution causes 4.3 See here for more info about the
and particulate pollution. million premature deaths. sources and effects of air pollution.
www.worldenvironmentday.global
Why is air pollution
#BeatAirPollution
International Covenant on Economic, simultaneously avoiding 2.4 million
an urgent issue now? Social and Cultural Rights. premature deaths and more than 50
million tonnes of crop losses per year.
– Health – Clean Air and the Sustainable
Evidence of the effect of air pollution Development Goals – Environment
on human health is stark and Fulfilling the right to breathe clean Air pollutants can have powerful
mounting. Air pollution, traditionally air goes hand in hand with achieving impacts on the environment. They
linked to cardiovascular and the Sustainable Development can change or deplete nutrients in
respiratory disease, has in recent Goals, including healthy lives for all, soil and waterways, endanger vital
years also been linked to diabetes, sustainable cities, universal access to freshwater sources, harm forests and
increased risk of dementia, impaired clean energy, and effective action to minimize crop yields, introduce toxins
cognitive development and lower address climate change. and heavy metals to the food chain,
intelligence levels. About 7 million and damage cultural icons such as
people worldwide die prematurely – Climate monuments and statues.
from air pollution each year. Air pollution and climate change
are intrinsically linked as they share – Economic
– Human Rights common sources. Air pollution control The most obvious economic impact
In at least 155 countries, a healthy measures can therefore reduce of air pollution is the costs to public
environment is recognized as a emissions of climate pollutants and health. Air pollution costs the global
constitutional right. Obligations improve local air quality. If we were to economy more than US$5 trillion every
related to clean air are implicit in a reduce pollutants like methane, black year in welfare costs. The effects are
number of international human rights carbon, and tropospheric ozone, we worse in the developing world, where
instruments, including the Universal could reduce global warming by up in some places, welfare losses cost
Declaration of Human Rights and the to 0.5˚C over the next few decades, nearly 7.5 per cent of GDP.
www.worldenvironmentday.global
Together we can
#BeatAirPollution
• All registered events will be given On 5 June, check back on this site
#BeatAirPollution global visibility on the site via a to follow a live blog with 24-hour
real-time map and will also be coverage on related events and social
Everyone is invited to take part! awarded World Environment Day conversation from around the world.
Explore this site to learn about the participation certificates by UN
different types of air pollution and Environment. In the weeks after World Environment
why they matter to you using the Day, the site will share stories on
infographics, quizzes and stories from To stay on top of events happening in commitments made by cities,
around the world. the lead up to 5 June, subscribe to the governments and the private sector
World Environment Day newsletter. and track how we have collectively
Governments, cities, schools, moved the needle on air pollution!
businesses, organizations:
• Use the World Environment Day site
and this practical guide to get
inspired on the types of activities you
can host on 5 June and register your
events on the site. These could be as
small as friends getting together with
friends to bike to work, a school
planting trees on its campus or a city
introducing a car free day.
Register your event on our world map
www.worldenvironmentday.global
How can governments
#BeatAirPollution
get involved?
Consider using World Environment Day • Announce new requirements • Announce on World Environment
to make commitments to improve air on industry to reduce harmful air Day that you will join the Breathe
quality. Here are some ideas: pollutants. Life campaign run by UN
Environment, the Climate and
• Make a pledge to phase out petrol Clean Air Coalition, the World Health
and diesel-based cars. Organization and the World Bank.
• Use 5 June to pledge more Register your event here.
investments in renewable energy
sources.
• Use World Environment Day to make
a commitment to put in place
national air quality action plans.
• Make a commitment to monitor air
quality, assess pollution sources and
tackle them to protect citizens from
harmful toxins. Only 1 in 10 cities have
air quality measures that meet World
Health Organization standards.
® Michael Edson
www.worldenvironmentday.global
How can cities
#BeatAirPollution
celebrate?
Consider using World Environment Day • Offer free transport in urban areas • Pledge to phase out diesel buses
to make commitments on improving to encourage drivers to leave their and trucks, as cities such as
air quality by curbing transport and cars at home. Madrid, Paris, Athens and Mexico
energy emissions and creating more City have done.
green spaces. Here are some ideas: • Do a tree-planting day on 5 June.
• Look at landfill gas recovery as an
• Consider hosting an electric vehicle energy option that harnesses landfill
expo on World Environment Day emissions rather than allowing them
to educate citizens on the benefits. to enter the atmosphere or our lungs.
• Commit to making more pedestrian Register your event here.
and cycle-friendly zones with
separated lanes for walking and
riding.
www.worldenvironmentday.global
How can businesses
#BeatAirPollution
get involved?
Why not use World Environment • Make a pledge to use recyclable • Consider how you can reduce
Day to make pledges on reducing materials for your products. emissions of air pollutants from
emissions and investing in research facilities and supply chains.
and development to imagine new and • Host a company tree planting day.
less damaging ways of doing business. Register your event here.
• Use World Environment Day to ensure
your power supply is renewable.
• Think about using fresh air ventilation
for cooling or install ultra-efficient,
hydrofluorocarbon-free cooling.
• Make a pledge to buy low-emission
or electric vehicles for the company
fleet.
www.worldenvironmentday.global
How can civil society
#BeatAirPollution
take part?
On World Environment Day, we should • Commit to using more public for legislation to control the worst
all think about making pledges to be transportation, cycle or walk, polluters.
more sustainable in our consumption and share car rides where possible.
and reduce air pollution in our daily • If celebating Eid Al-Fiter, which
lives. Here are some practical tips to • Make a commitment not to burn coincides with World Environment
get started: trash. Day this year, consider buying only
what you need so as to minimize air
• Organize a tree planting activity with pollution and climate change.
your community on World
Environment Day, which is a cost- Register your event here.
effective way to tackle urban air
pollution.
• Organize a trash clean-up event with
community and colleagues.
• Use World Environment Day as
an opportunity to ask your local
authorities to provide timely,
regular air quality data and petition
www.worldenvironmentday.globalHow can schools and
#BeatAirPollution
universities celebrate?
World Environment Day can be a • Host a tree-planting event on World • On World Environment consider
platform for students and education Environment Day and ask students to installing air quality monitors to
officials to lead the fight for cleaner bring in seedlings for their own check air quality on your campus
air and ask their governments and plants. and area so that the community is
schools to transition to cleaner energy. aware of the air they are breathing.
Here are some examples of actions • Ask teachers and professors to teach
that could be taken by schools: a whole day on sustainability and air • On World Environment Day consider
quality for World Environment Day. committing to provide electric buses
and making your school campus is
• Support students in the creation of bicycle friendly
environmental clubs on campus,
which can empower youth to be • Consider creating no-car idling
innovative and come up with ideas zones near your school.
to tackle air pollution.
Register your event here.
• Use World Environment Day as
an opportunity to commit to using
renewable energy on your campuses.
www.worldenvironmentday.globalHow can individuals
#BeatAirPollution
get involved?
Nine out of ten people breathe Phase 1 Phase 2 –
polluted air. From 24 May, through May 24th – June 4th World Environment Day June 5th
to #WorldEnvironmentDay on
June 5, we are calling on everyone to 1. Take a photo or video of yourself 1. Take another photo or video of
join the Mask Challenge. Face masks wearing a mask to post on social yourself fulfilling your commitment
are a great symbol to show leaders we media. Don’t have a mask? and post it on social media.
want to breathe clean air. Alongside Get creative and make your own! 2. Use #WorldEnvironmentDay and
celebrities, influencers and creators, 2. In your post share the action you’ll #BeatAirPollution in your social
the World Environment Day campaign take to reduce air pollution media posts and don’t forget to tag
invites everyone to: click here to learn how @UNEnvironment.
3. Tag 3 people/organizations/
companies to challenge them to do
the same.
4. Use #WorldEnvironmentDay and
#BeatAirPollution in your social
media posts and don’t forget to tag
@UNEnvironment.
www.worldenvironmentday.global#BeatAirPollution
Phase 1 Phase 2
May 24th – June 4th June 5thWe can #BeatAirPollution
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