The air we share: Clean Air for blue skies

The Air We Share: Clean Air for blue skies

Air pollution is the largest contributor to the burden of disease from the environment, and is one of the main avoidable causes of death and disease globally. 99% of the world’s population is now breathing polluted air, warns WHO. 7 million people die each year due to air pollution, with 90% of them in low- and middle-income countries (WHO, Lancet Planetary Health)

The International Day of Clean Air for blue skies is today 7 September 2022, under the theme of ‘The Air We Share’. It focuses on the transboundary nature of air pollution highlighting the need for collective accountability and collective action.

This action can be achieved by determining the air quality of a region. Air quality is a measure of how clean or polluted the air is. Monitoring air quality is important because polluted air can be bad for our health—and the health of the environment. Air quality is measured with the Air Quality Index or AQI. The AQI works sort of like a thermometer that runs from 0 to 500 degrees.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) is used by government agencies to communicate to the public how polluted the air currently is or how polluted it is forecast to become.  AQI information is obtained by averaging readings from an air quality sensor, which can increase due to vehicle traffic, forest fires, or anything that can increase air pollution. Pollutants tested include ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, among others.

AQI values at or below 100 are generally thought of as satisfactory. When AQI values are above 100, air quality is unhealthy: at first for certain sensitive groups of people, then for everyone as AQI values get higher.

 Nigeria has annual mean concentrations of 46.3 μg/m3 of PM2. 5 pollutants, 9 times (September 2021 WHO update) above the WHO guidelines for outdoor air quality.

The highest levels of small and fine particulate pollution (PM10 and PM2.5) were recorded in South-East Asia and the Mediterranean. According to the WHO, Onitsha in Nigeria has the highest levels of PM10 worldwide, followed by Peshawar in Pakistan and Zabol in Iran. The level of PM10 in Onitsha is nearly 30 times the recommended level. This calls for great attention and concern @Federal Ministry of Environment

Air pollution knows no national borders and is all pervasive. Moreover, it is strongly correlated to other global crises such as climate change, biodiversity loss, other forms of pollution, social and gender parity as well as economic development.

Some air pollutants, such as black carbon, methane, and ground-level ozone, are also short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) and are responsible for a significant portion of air pollution-related deaths, as well as impacts on crops and hence food security. Climate change is inextricably linked to air pollution, wherein one cannot be resolved without addressing the other, an integrated approach to tackle both could result in significant co-benefits.

By 2050, we can halve global crop losses from these pollutants by reducing methane emissions, an ingredient in the formation of tropospheric ozone, an important greenhouse gas and air pollutant, which would potentially save between $4 to $33 billion USD.

The need to raise awareness about the problem, impact, and solutions for air pollution; collection and sharing of data, research, and best practices as well as strengthening international and regional cooperation for efficient implementation has never been greater.

99% of our world is exposed to polluted air causing an estimated 7 million premature deaths every year. Air pollution is an environmental risk to human health. It has detrimental impacts on climate, biodiversity, and ecosystems. In fact, environmental health is linked to human health. Improving our air quality will bring health, development, and environmental benefits.

Recently, LASEPA (Lagos State Environment Protection Agency) with support from IHS Towers flagged the Eko Clean Air Campaign targeted at promoting a circular economy and environmental sustainability. On this International Day of Clean Air for blue skies, we call upon everyone, from governments and corporations to civil society and individuals.

Take action to reduce air pollution and bring a transformative change to the air we share.

References: ccacolation, WHO, UNEP, LASG, LASEPA, Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality