What: Healthy Air, Healthy Planet: Progress and Perspectives from Latin America and Caribbean region

Date: 7 September 2021; 11:00 GMT-5

Air pollution is responsible for 300,000 premature deaths a year in the Americas and is one of the greatest environmental health challenges in the world. Additionally, it has serious detrimental effects on climate, biodiversity and ecosystems, and quality of life in general. 

This event, organised by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) office and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), will outline the progress and challenges in the fight against air pollution in Latin America and the Caribbean. It will present the main findings of the regional report "Actions on Air Quality" and identify trends in air quality management in the LAC region.

Register here.

Find more information here.

The International Forum on Transboundary Air Pollution will explore ways to improve air quality in Northeast Asia in terms of governance, science, diplomacy and civic activism. The three-hour forum consists of three sessions -- interactions between climate change and air pollution; the role of science and technology in enhancing policymaking and cooperation to resolve air quality issues; and cooperative measures being taken by countries in Northeast Asia, namely the Republic of Korea, Japan, China and Mongolia. 

This event is hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea.

Date: 7 September 2021; 14:30 - 17:30 (GMT+9) Seoul 

Where: Four Seasons Hotel, Central Seoul

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The Beijing International Forum for Metropolitan Clean Air Actions is a professional forum in the field of ecological environment organised by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment. The theme for this year’s forum is “Co-Benefits of Reducing Pollution and Carbon Emissions”, under which the environmental and climate officials and experts will focus on key areas to summarize and share the ambitions, targets, measures and progress of international metropolises in Carbon Neutral Strategies and Air Quality Goal.

The forum will serve as a platform of dialogue and exchange, as well as a catalyst for joint efforts and added value among our international partners and sister city colleagues. Participants in the forum include representatives from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), government authorities, research institutes, NGOs and the relevant stakeholders. 

Date: 6 - 7 September 2021

Where: Online

Clean air and encouraging small daily actions to improve air quality is significant. A ‘Healthy Air’, and a ‘Healthy Planet’ can be created with small actions that make big changes. We often do not realize that we’re already doing it. People who choose to use eco-friendly (public) transportation, change their old boilers and switch to more eco-friendly electric cars, will and can contribute to air pollution decrease and fine dust reduction. By highlighting ordinary people, simple actions and stories of best practices, people are reminded of how easy it is to act for clean air and encouraged to take more action.

The Ministry of Environment in the Republic of Korea is launching a campaign on the occasion of the second International Day of Clean Air for blue skies. The campaign will consist of a promotional video, campaign song and a hand gesture challenge. The campaign will feature the Korean pop girl group LABOUM and the all-Korean non-verbal comedy team ONGALS.

Find more information here and here. 

Air pollution is a global problem with far-reaching impacts due to its transboundary nature. It is one of the greatest environmental risk to human health and one of the main avoidable causes of death and disease globally causing an estimated 7 million premature deaths every year. To raise awareness and mobilize global action to address air pollution the United Nations General Assembly designated 7 September as the International Day of Clean Air for blue skies. The 2021 theme is “Healthy Air, Healthy Planet” which emphasizes the correlation between human and planetary health, which is particularly relevant in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

This year’s celebrations in Nairobi will engage in a high-level dialogue among experts and government representatives on policy and actions to tackle air pollution. The event will also discuss findings of key United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) reports on the subject.

The session will be hosted by Inger Andersen, UNEP Executive Director and moderated by Andrea Hinwood, UNEP Chief Scientist and will include panelists from the civil society, academia as well as government leaders discussing the impact of air pollution on health, the economy and climate, remaining challenges and gaps, as well as successful policies and actions.

When: 7 September 2021; 16:00 - 17:30 EAT

Where: Register here

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

Visit the official website of the International Day of Clean Air for blue skies for more information.

As deaths linked to air pollution continue to rise in the poorest parts of the world, funding to reverse that trend – and allow everyone to breathe clean air – is more critical than ever. In the Clean Air Fund’s State of Global Air Quality Funding 2021 report, the global funding to improve outdoor air quality from official development sources and from philanthropic foundations between 2015 and 2020 is reviewed. This analysis covers investments made to date, the geographies and types of projects being funded, and trends over time. Funding for projects which work against clean air are identified. The research findings and recommendations show the bigger picture, the gaps and the opportunities for collaboration and coordinated action.

What: Third Asia Pacific Clean Air Partnership (APCAP) Joint Forum

When: 8 - 10 September 2021

The Third Asia Pacific Clean Air Partnership (APCAP) Joint Forum will bring together governments leaders, experts, private sector, and civil society organizations to discuss how we can ‘build back better for healthy air and a healthy planet’. This event is organized by UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and is hosted by the Ministry of Environment, Japan.

The forum aims to showcase the region’s progress to beat air pollution and discuss opportunities to accelerate clean air solutions, contribute to carbon neutrality, and support socio-economic recovery. It will serve as a regional knowledge exchange and dialogue platform on clean air for the Asia Pacific region to recognize progress and showcase solutions, inform new evidence, and inspire and accelerate action.

Among those attending will be Mr. Rico Hizon, Senior Anchor and Director for Content Development, CNN Philippines and Ms. Dechen Tsering, Regional Director, UNEP Asia and the Pacific Office.

The APCAP Joint Forum contributes to the commemoration of the International Day of Clean Air for blue skies in Asia and the Pacific region.

Find more details here.