Thursday, 8 September 2022
08:30 - 12:30 GST
The St. Regis Downtown, Dubai
Organiser (s): Air Quality Management Section – Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
About: In this event, the speakers will showcase the interlinkages between pollution and health and highlight local research about particulate matter composition and sources. Air pollution is a cross-sectoral problem, and it requires an integrated approach through unified efforts that could lead to significant co-benefits. International and regional collaboration and engagement of all relevant stakeholders remain essential in successfully addressing air pollution.
The UAE's geographical location poses a challenge to the country regarding air quality, as it is characterised by high temperatures, humidity, dust storms, and a lack of natural water sources. Several studies that were conducted earlier show that the UAE is usually affected by dust and sand storms from transboundary sources. This aligns with this year's theme, “The Air We Share”, which focuses on air pollution's transboundary nature, stressing the need for collective accountability and action. This event focuses mainly on characterising particulate matter and knowing the sources behind it and its implication on the population.
Objective: The event aims to raise awareness and lead the country's efforts to adopt effective policies to mitigate and prevent the effects of air pollution
Key messages:
- Air quality is an acknowledged global issue which poses significant risks to the population.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) considers clean air a primary human health and well-being requirement.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified air pollution as a significant risk factor for respiratory diseases
- The UAE greatly emphasises understanding the nature, sources, composition and health effects of particulate matter. Various authorities have conducted several studies around the country and in academia.
- Celebrating the International Day of Clean Air for blue skies 2022 is an excellent opportunity to highlight the progress made within the past years on the air quality topic, especially when it comes to local policies, studies and research on particulate matter (PM2.5) to raise awareness and lead the country's efforts to adopt effective policies to mitigate and prevent the effects of air pollution.
Contact person: [email protected]