Youth and the Fight for Cleaner Air

Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that air pollution kills an estimate of seven million people worldwide every year. According to their data, 9 out of 10 people breathe air containing high levels of pollutants with 91% of the world’s population living in places where air quality exceeds the WHO Guideline Limits. 

John Walke, Director of the Clean Air Project under the Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC) points out that most air pollution comes from energy use and production. 

Cars and other vehicles are major pollutant contributors. The Union of Concerned Scientists presented that motorized vehicles contribute half of the carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides emitted into the air. 

Carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide are polluting gasses contained in automobile exhaust. 

Among the demands of youth, as presented in the Global Youth Statement for Road Safety, is for road users to have a safe and sustainable transport system to combat the climate crisis. We need to breathe! 

“There is no Planet B! We need safe and sustainable transport systems to combat the climate crisis. Let us breathe!” - Global Youth Statement for Road Safety”

To help work on the achievement of SDG 13 in connection with road safety, youth commit to advocate for safe and sustainable transport that is clean and green. 

Recently, the United Nations has declared September 7 to be the first celebration of International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies. This intervention calls to governments, corporations, and individuals to take action to reduce air pollution and bring transformative change.  

This day raises public awareness on the importance of clean air for health and livelihood and invites youth to share their ideas of shat clean air means to them in their own language. The initiative looks to find initiatives, solutions, and suggestions on how cities can improve air quality.  

Youth play a vital role in our mission for clean air. Oni writes that today’s generation of young people have a great sense of autonomy, independence, and association makes them important agents for societal change. 

Youth have begun to lead the change in transport and road safety, switching to more sustainable forms of mobility such as cycling and walking. More young leaders from all over the world have become road safety leaders and activists, calling for change and engagement from world leaders. 

Be one of the young leaders leading the change for cleaner air and more sustainable transport! Join the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety today! 

Sources: 

Oni, Tolu. 2020 September 6. How the Power of Youth Can Help Fight Air Pollution Across Africa. Retrieved from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/09/africa-air-pollution-youth/

World Health Organization. (N.D). Retrieved on 2020 September 11. Air Pollution. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/health-topics/air-pollution#tab=tab_1

MacKenzie, Jillian. 2016 November 1. Air Pollution: Everything You Need to Know. Retrieved from https://www.nrdc.org/stories/air-pollution-everything-you-need-know

Union of Concerned Scientists. 2014 July 18. Vehicles, Air Pollution, and Human Health. Retrieved from https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/vehicles-air-pollution-human-health

United Nations. (N.D). Retrieved on 2020 September 11. International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies. Retrieved from https://www.cleanairblueskies.org