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International Day of Clean Air for blue skies 2022

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International Day of Clean Air for blue skies 2022

The third International Day of Clean Air for blue skies on 7 September 2022 aims to build a global community of action that encourages countries to work together to tackle air pollution. Learn more about what SEI is doing to protect #TheAirWeShare.

Victoria Beale / Published on 31 August 2022

About the day

The third International Day of Clean Air for blue skies takes place just months after a World Health Organization report found that 99% of the population breathes polluted air.

Every year, 7 million people die prematurely due to air pollution, 90% of whom live in low- and middle-income countries. Air pollution disproportionately affects children and the elderly and negatively impacts ecosystems. Improving air quality is essential to mitigating the impacts of many air pollutants that contribute directly to the climate crisis. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development also recognizes that air pollution abatement is important to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

The United Nations General Assembly designated 7 September as International Day of Clean Air for blue skies in 2019, and the first Day was held in 2020. The need for clean air remains as important as ever. The day aims to build a global community of action that encourages countries to work together to tackle air pollution to ensure that we can protect #TheAirWeShare to protect human and environmental health. To this end, it gives people a platform that can enable cooperation at the individual, national, regional and international level.

Find out more about this day on the Clean Air for blue skies website and FAQ page and test your knowledge of air pollution with a quick quiz.

International Day of Clean Air for blue skies logo resembling a pixelated blue cloud and the title of the day.

International Day of Clean Air for blue skies logo

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Indoor air pollution

It's not just outside that we are exposed to air pollution. As well polluted outdoor air finding its way inside, many of the objects we bring into our own homes, schools and workplaces, and the activities that take place there, produce airborne pollutants. 2.4 billion people are exposed to dangerous levels of household air pollution. In South Asia and many African countries, household air pollution is the leading cause of premature death. SEI is working to understand some of the sources and impacts of these indoor pollutants.

Sport and air quality

We have been working with athletics organizations in both Kenya and Sweden to promote action and advocacy to tackle air pollution.

Air quality in Africa

Air quality in Asia

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Key projects

Global projects and tools

Projects in Africa

Projects in Asia

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Key people

Anderson Kehbila

Programme Leader

SEI Africa

Andreas Heinemeyer

Senior Research Fellow

SEI York

Chris Malley

Senior Research Fellow

SEI York

Diane Archer

Senior Research Fellow

SEI Asia

Eleni Michalopoulou

Research Associate

SEI York

Gary Haq, Senior Research Assoicate at SEI
Gary Haq

Senior Research Associate

SEI York

Jean McKendree
Jean McKendree

Research Fellow

SEI York

Johan C.I. Kuylenstierna

Reader / Research Leader

SEI York

Kevin Hicks

Senior Research Fellow

SEI York

Philip Osano
Philip Osano

Centre Director

SEI Africa

Profile picture of Rob Bailis
Rob Bailis

Senior Scientist

SEI US

Sarah West

Centre Director

SEI York

Media contact

Ulrika Lamberth
Ulrika Lamberth

Senior Press Officer

Communications

SEI Headquarters

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