International Day of Clean Air for blue skies | UPSC
HEADLINES:
CSE calls for a ‘green’ recovery action plan on first International Day of Clean Air for blue skies
WHY IN NEWS:
It is a Global efforts to reduce pollution and its effects receive an advocacy boost as the world marks the first-ever International Day of Clean Air for blue skies
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3: UN observances
LEARNING:
For PRELIMS please note down the important facts related to this event in your Prelims book ! Since this is the first celebration , Treat this as a high priority Article .
For MAINS this article will give you sufficient information on monitoring vehicle emissions in India .
ISSUE:
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF CLEAN AIR FOR BLUE SKIES
TIMELINE
- The very first International Day of Clean Air for blue skies will be held on September 7th, 2020.
AIM
- RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS : Individual, community, corporate and government levels—that clean air is important for health, productivity, the economy and the environment.
- FASTENING SDG’s : Demonstrate the close link of air quality to other environmental challenges such as – most and foremost – climate change and the global Sustainable Development Goals.
- BEST PRACTISES : Promote and facilitate solutions that improve air quality by sharing actionable knowledge best practices, innovations, and success stories.
- DRIVING MOMENTUM : Bring together diverse international actors working on this topic to form a strategic alliance to gain momentum for responsible stakeholders.
RESOLUTION
- The United Nations General Assembly adopted the resolution to hold an International Day of Clean Air for blue skies on December 19, 2019, during its 74th session.
- The Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) worked with UNEP and the Republic of Korea to advocate for the day in the lead up to the decision.
- WHO is working with BreatheLife partners to coordinate activities for the day.
CELEBRATION AT NATIONAL LEVEL
- UN Member States recognize the need to substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination by 2030.
- This will have per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management by 2030.
- Air pollution is the single greatest environmental risk to human health and one of the main avoidable causes of death and disease globally.
- Air pollution disproportionately affects women, children and older persons, and also has a negative impact on ecosystems.
- CSE called for build ambition for zero emission targets by promoting electric vehicles.
AT NATIONAL LEVEL
- About 20-30 per cent reduction in particulate pollution in non-attainment cities by 2024.
THIS CAN BE POSSIBLE WITH
- Linking scrappage policy with electric vehicle transition .
- The need for state governments to set milestones to implement electric vehicle policy.
PANDEMIC AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT
- The COVID-19 pandemic has deeply affected public transport.
- A revival plan is needed to reduce transport sector emissions.
- But the public transport systems have nearly collapsed in cities.- CSE
- At least 81 per cent of state bus operators have reported no ridership at all during the lockdown phases.
- The pandemic is cutting down the existing capacity by more than half.
IASbhai WINDUP:
CLEAN AIR AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
- In the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, entitled “The future we want,” countries committed to promoting sustainable development policies .
- Also, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which outlines a road map to achieving sustainable development, environmental protection and prosperity for all.
- It recognizes that air pollution abatement is important to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals.
SOURCES:DownToEarth | WHO | UNEP
DISCOVER MORE : UN OBSERVANCES
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