# On World Environment Day, world turns spotlight on air pollution

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2019/06/on-world-environment-day-world-turns-spotlight-on-air-pollution/
- Published: 2019-06-15T00:07:19-04:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

05 June 2019, Hangzhou, China – Governments, industry, communities and individuals
around the world today commemorated World Environment Day, the United Nations’ biggest
annual event for positive environmental action, encouraging worldwide awareness 
and commitment to protect our planet.

This year’s celebrations, held under the theme ‘Beat Air Pollution’, called upon
people to explore renewable energy and green technologies. Also and improve air 
quality in cities and regions across the world. More than 6 billion people – one-
third of them children – regularly breathe air that is so polluted it puts their
health and well-being at risk.

## ⏎  World Environment Day

Spearheaded by China, official host of the global World Environment Day celebrations,
UN Environment’s campaign to #[BeatAirPollution](https://greenlivingguy.com/2016/06/disney-cruise-line-regains-a-grade-for-pollution-transparency/)
culminated into a record number of registered events and commitments.

Protecting our blue skies may be difficult, but our future relies on it,” Joyce 
Msuya, acting Executive Director of UN Environment, said during the global celebrations
in Hangzhou. “And they are our blue skies. It doesn’t matter if you’re in Beijing
or Beirut, when we look up we see the same sky. And I think when we look to China,
we see many examples of how to protect it.”

![](https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/img_8682.jpg?
resize=300%2C169&quality=52&ssl=1 "img_8682 - The Green Living Guy")

## Over the past decade, the Chinese government has taken drastic measures to limit air pollution in its biggest cities.

For that’s bringing back blue skies in Beijing, Shanghai and other megacities, benefitting
the health of millions.

![](https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/img_8681.jpg?
resize=300%2C200&quality=52&ssl=1 "img_8681 - The Green Living Guy")

By implementing far-reaching measures at the national- and state-level government,
such as 100 per cent electric public transportation, curtailing outputs from factories
and allocating more than US$10 billion to address air quality, several cities saw
the concentration of PM 2.5 drop dramatically.

The President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, conveyed his congratulations
on the occasion of World Environment Day, saying, “Humankind only has one planet.
Environmental conservation and sustainable development are the common responsibility
of all countries. Ecological civilization is built into China’s national development
architecture and strategy. China will work with any and all to implement the 2030
agenda to protect our only planet.”

![On world environment day world turns spotlight on air pollution](https://i0.wp.
com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/pexels-photo-2.jpg?resize=780%
2C520&quality=52&ssl=1 "On World Environment Day, world turns spotlight on air pollution-
The Green Living Guy")

# **A global call for action**

In the weeks leading up to World Environment Day, photos and videos of people on
every continent covering the lower half of their faces with masks, scarfs, their
hands or even flowers, food, and clothing flooded social media channels.

Each image, accompanied by the hashtag #BeatAirPollution, came with a call for global
[action and a personal pledge](https://greenlivingguy.com/2005/12/david-cameron-vows-tough-green-action/)
to make individual lifestyle changes to reduce air pollution such as swapping car
rides for bike rides, reducing meat intake or powering down electronic equipment
when not in use.

Today, we [face an equally urgent crisis](https://greenlivingguy.com/2025/09/ganga-river-faces-crisis-and-dry-spells/).
It is time to act decisively,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in his
official message for [World Environment](https://greenlivingguy.com/2012/04/earth-day-acts-never-wasted/)
Day. “My message to governments is clear: tax pollution; end fossil fuel subsidies;
and stop building new [coal plants](https://greenlivingguy.com/2018/12/coal-plants-and-their-environmental-impact-explored/).
We need a green economy not a grey economy.”

## **Events around the world**

Air pollution goes to the heart of social justice and global inequality. According
to the World Health Organization, [97 per cent of cities](https://www.who.int/airpollution/data/cities/en/)
in low- and middle-income countries with more than 100,000 inhabitants do not meet
air quality guidelines. That percentage falls to 49 in high-income countries. So
World [Environment Day](https://greenlivingguy.com/2012/03/nuclear-india-the-controversy-over-safety-issues/)
events on every continent drew attention to this issue, and united communities against
a global health threat that affects individuals, indiscriminate of age, religion
or nationality.

### **Europe**

In Europe, celebrations kicked off with the launch of the report ‘[Air Pollution and Human Health: The Case of the Western Balkans‘](https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/press-release/air-pollution-responsible-one-five-premature-deaths-19-western)
in Sarajevo, accompanied by the presentation of the ‘Sarajevo Air’ app, that helps
citizens avoid polluted areas while walking or cycling. The Celebrations on the 
continent further included a kids marathon in Kazakhstan and an eco-trail run in
Geneva, the Festival de l’environnement in Brussels and the launch of a World Environment
Day themed song.

![](https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/pexels-photo-
259526.jpg?resize=780%2C264&quality=52&ssl=1 "pexels-photo-259526 - The Green Living
Guy")

### **Africa**

Being first and foremost a celebration of environmental beauty, Kenya ­marked [World Environment Day with a fashion](https://greenlivingguy.com/2010/01/exploring-the-world-of-eco-fashion-at-sundance-film-festival/)
show featuring striking pieces from local eco-conscious designers. A bike ride through
the center of the capital, Nairobi, was followed by the official celebrations, which
included a
 ceremonial tree planting exercise, cultural performances and art exhibitions.

A number of African countries – South Africa, Rwanda, Morocco, Tanzania, Senegal,
Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Niger, Nigeria, Algeria – also commemorated the 
day with official events.

#### **West Asia**

Across the Middle Eastern nations of Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Oman,
youth-led
 led drew attention to the issue of air pollution right before the start
of the Eid-Al Fitr festivities. Celebrations in Bahrain started on the 3rd of June
with the planting of 150 Neem trees, and a mass cycling event in partnership with
the Embassy of [India](https://www.thethirdpole.net/en/2017/11/17/easy-solution-to-indias-air-pollution-problem/)
in Bahrain.

### ⏎  **North America**

In North America, rock fan favorites Dave Matthews Band were [designated as UN Environment Goodwill Ambassadors](https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/press-release/dave-matthews-band-designated-un-environment-goodwill-ambassador)
for their efforts in reducing the environmental footprints of their tours. Over 
the past 15 years and 578 concerts, the band – together with partner REVERB – has
avoided 55,000,000 kg of CO2 and 478,000 single-use plastic bottles.

In New York, climate, health and building experts discussed air pollution as a global
health emergency and a leading environmental threat to the city, while almost 90
third grade students at the School for Environmental Studies and Community Wellness
in Brooklyn gathered to compose “Love Letters to the Air,” an arts-integrated, creative
letter-writing project that promotes positive change for our planet.

### **Latin America and the Caribbean**

In Ecuador, regional host of World Environment Day, young people planted 1,000 native
trees minutes from the crater of the Pululahua, one of the few inhabited volcanoes
in the planet. In Haiti and Mexico, UN Environment hosted film festivals on the 
environment. The Mexican state of Guanajuato saw further celebrations, including
a nighttime bike ride.**

Cycling was also on the agenda in Peru, where a massive bike ride was organized 
in the capital, Lima, to commemorate World environment Day. In Brazil, 10 states
organized bike rides over the course of a week, while the city of São Paolo formally
launched the implementation of a national network for air quality monitors.

#### **Asia and the Pacific**

Celebrations in host country China commenced with a visit to Anji county, near Hangzhou,
where President Xi Jinping famously declared that “green is gold”. Here, the Champions
of the Earth-winning Zhejiang Rural Revival Programme had transformed a former mining
and industrial wasteland into a prosperous region and healthy landscape. A delegation
from UN Environment [visited a county court](https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/story/nature-finds-poetic-justice-zhejiang-courts),
where the judiciary is making innovative strides in environmental justice, including
allowing cases to be opened and mediated by mobile phone.

Nearby Nanjing then showcased Zhejiang province’s futuristic [environmental monitoring centre](https://web.archive.org/web/20190607113859/https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/story/robots-wander-halls-jiangsus-new-futuristic-environmental-monitoring-centre)
during a visit the following day.>

[[

### Global host city Hangzhou demonstrated its own environmental advancements.

For that’s including the city’s [electric buses,](https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/story/new-green-chapter-chinas-fabled-lakeside-city)
which now constitute 70 per cent of the bus fleet. Visiting the Xixi Wetland Park,
the delegation saw the results of the rejuvenation of a wetland area, which has 
brought back hundreds of bird, plant and insect species to the area.

During the main celebrations on June 5th, China’s Vice Premier Han Zheng conveyed
a message from President Xi, reiterating China’s commitment to beat air pollution
and willingness to share China’s experiences and practices with other countries.
Other senior Chinese officials, including [Environment Minister Li Ganjie and Zhejiang Party Secretary Che Jun also reiterated China’s commitment to the environment and global cooperation on climate change](https://greenlivingguy.com/2005/05/global-warming-change-a-small-few-non-believers-say-no/).
[Senior](https://greenlivingguy.com/2022/05/plants-help-improve-physical-and-mental-health/)
UN Environment representation and other delegates then together presented China’s
Ecological Civilization and volunteer awards to winners.

World Environment Day celebrations in Asia and the Pacific took place in Myanmar,
where the President launched the country’s environmental and climate change [policies](https://web.archive.org/web/20190607194405/https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/press-release/myanmar-announces-national-environment-and-climate-change-policies),
India, where the Agra government announced their clean air plan and Thailand, where
events attended by the Governor of Bangkok and top officials from the Ministry of
Natural Resources and Environment saw musical performances, activities and panel
discussions on air pollution.

#### **BreatheLife commitments**

Nine governments at the national and municipal level made commitments to bring air
quality to safe levels by 2030, by joining the [BreatheLife campaign](https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/press-release/nine-governments-join-breathelife-world-environment-day-commit),
a joint initiative by UN Environment, the World Health Organization, the Climate
and Clean Air Coalition and the World Bank.

By committing to BreatheLife, Bogotá (Colombia), Lalitpur and Kathmandu (Nepal),
Honduras, Bogor City (Indonesia), the Republic of Moldova, Monaco, Montevideo (Uruguay)
and Mexico demonstrate their dedication to collaborate on the clean air solutions
that will help us get to a World Free of Air Pollution faster. The new commitments
bring the number of cities, regions and countries in the BreatheLife network to 
63, representing 271.4 million citizens around the world.

For news and stories about World Environment Day celebrations, as well as more information
about air pollution, visit: [www.](https://www.worldenvironmentday.global/) [worldenvironmentday.global](https://www.worldenvironmentday.global/)

**Sources**: UN Environment**World Environment Day**[www.worldenvironmentday.](https://www.worldenvironmentday.global/)

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 The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is an independent power producer, a green living
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