Bilingual: Guterres addressed The International Blue Sky Day for Clean Air 2022

Message by UN Secretary-General António Guterres on the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies

Un Secretary-General António Guterres addressed International Clean Air Blue Sky Day

7 September 2022

September 7, 2022

In July this year, nations recognized the universal right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.

In July, States affirmed the right of everyone to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.

Clean air is now a human right.

Clean air is now a human right.

A stable climate is a human right.

A stable climate is also a human right.

Healthy nature is a human right.

Healthy nature is also a human right.

Today, air pollution is denying billions of people of their rights.

However, air pollution is currently depriving billions of people of these rights.

Dirty air affects 99 per cent of people on the planet.

99% of the people on The planet suffer from the effects of dirty air.

The poor suffer worst.

The poor suffer the most.

Especially women and girls, whose health suffers by cooking and heating with dirty fuels.

Women and girls bear the brunt of the fact that their health is compromised by the use of highly polluting fuels for cooking and heating.

The poor also live in areas choked with fumes from traffic and industry.

Areas where the poor live are also filled with smoke from transportation and industry.

Air pollutants also cause global warming.

Air pollutants also contribute to global warming.

Wildfires are further polluting the air.

Wildfires further pollute the air.

When people are exposed to air pollution and extreme heat, their risk of death is some 20 per cent higher.

People exposed to air pollution and extreme heat have an increased risk of death by about 20 percent.

Climate change and air pollution are a deadly duo.

Climate change and air pollution are a deadly combination.

On this third International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, I call on all countries to work together to combat air pollution.

On this third International Clean Air Blue Sky Day, I call on all countries to work together to combat air pollution.

We know what to do.

We know what actions to take, and that is:

Invest in renewable energy and swiftly transition away from fossil fuels.

Invest in renewable energy and rapidly phase out fossil fuels.

Rapidly move to zero-emission vehicles and alternative modes of transport.

Quickly move to zero-emission vehicles and alternative modes of transportation.

Increase access to clean cooking, heating and cooling.

Enable people to use more clean cooking, heating, cooling methods.

International Clean Air Blue Sky Day 2022

Recycle waste instead of burning it.

Recycle rather than incinerate waste.

These actions would save millions of lives each year, slow climate change and speed up sustainable development.

These actions will save millions of lives each year, mitigate climate change and accelerate sustainable development.

Air pollution knows no borders.

Air pollution knows no borders.

So, nations must work together.

States must therefore work together to combat it.

Let’s monitor air pollution.

Let's monitor the air pollution.

Make laws to meet World Health Organization Air Quality Guidelines.

Let's make laws to meet the standards set out in the WHO Air Quality Guidelines.

And deliver credible plans to reduce emissions from vehicles, power plants, construction and industries.

Let's put in place credible plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, power plants, construction, and industry.

Together, we can reduce air pollution and keep people and the planet healthy and safe.

As long as we work together, we will be able to reduce air pollution and maintain the health and safety of people and the planet.