Air pollution is not only an environmental burden but also a public health, economic, and development challenge. The scientific evidence and policy interest in the co- benefits of air pollution reduction and climate change mitigation are increasing as many of air pollution sources overlap directly with the drivers of climate change. Fossil fuel combustion and short-lived climate pollutants such as methane and black carbon are major contributors to both health and climate crises. Air pollution and climate change are also increasingly understood as compounding, mutually reinforcing risks. Higher temperatures accelerate the atmospheric chemistry that forms ground-level ozone, while heatwaves and stagnation events, both becoming more frequent under climate change, trap pollutants closer to the ground, worsening air quality. Therefore, addressing both together, rather than as separate problems, is central to unlocking the full range of co-benefits.
The United Nations General Assembly's resolution of 26 November 2019 established 7 September as the "International Day of Clean Air for blue skies." This year's commemoration of the 7th International Day of Clean Air for blue skies, under the theme "Clean Air for Climate Action," brings together governments, international organisations, development partners, academia, civil society and private sector in the Asia Pacific region to explore how integrated action on air quality and climate change can deliver shared benefits. The event will feature the launch of the Spotlight publication, UNEP-CCAC Global Economic Assessment of Climate and Clean Air, alongside a panel discussion with regional and international experts. Participants will also be invited to view Every Breath Has a Story, Asia, a photo exhibition featuring entries from across the Asia and the Pacific, as part of the global Every Breath Has a Story photo call for clean air.