We celebrate World Environment Day every year on June 5th. It gives us the opportunity to take positive environmental action and bring raise awareness on environmental issues around our earth. This year the focus is on air pollution, which affects the well-being of people and economic development throughout the world. During World Environment Day 2019 people will be urging governments, industry, communities, and individuals to come together to explore renewable energy and green technologies. With better technology and greener options for energy, air quality in cities and regions across the world will improve.
What is Air Pollution?
Air Pollution is a by-product of increasing urbanization and industrialization. Common causes of air pollution include burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, natural gas and gasoline. They are burned to produce electricity and power cars. Air pollution also results from the use of insecticides, pesticides and fertilizers by farmers to control the pests that destroy their crops.
Indoor air pollution is also a problem, especially in colder areas of the world that have poor ventilation and less access to clean outdoor air. Household cleaners, painting supplies, and even air fresheners create unhealthy air.
Poor air quality is a problem for most of the planet. 92% of people worldwide do not breathe clean air, and animals and the climate also suffer. According to the World Health Organizations’s estimates, 3 million people die from ambient outdoor pollution every year.
What Can You Do To Reduce Air Pollution?
There are many small steps you can take in your personal life that will reduce the amount of pollution entering our air and improve air quality. Energy conservation is one of the most important. By turning off the lights in your house or appliances or devices when you are not using them, you will avoid wasting fossil fuels unnecessarily. Carpooling and using public transportation accomplish the same goal. Challenge yourself to notice energy that you may be wasting at home or at work, and work to reduce that waste.
Reducing consumption is always good too. The saying goes: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. The less stuff that gets made, gets used up, and goes into the trash (and then the incinerator), the better our air quality will be.
While you may not realize it, people around the world and in business, in government, and in the scientific community are taking action to reduce air pollution. You are not alone in this movement, but you are still needed! If you would like to learn more about World Environment Day, click here.
