In every 5 seconds, somebody around the world dies prematurely due to air pollution. This is because 90 percent of the world population is breathing polluted air.
Though pollution per se is harmful in one way or the other, air pollution is the most horrible for its territorial reach, persistency and limited scope of mitigation. It not only adversely effects the health of the population at its place of origin but travels with air for miles to harm those who don't even have any awareness or control on the reasons behind it. Besides directly harming the health, the poisonous gases in the air go up in the sky causing melting of the glaciers leading to Climate Change (SDG13). It's due to this multi-dimensional harmful effects of the air pollution, UN Secretary General Mr. Antonio Guterres has alarmed the nations about the threat of global warming leading to climate change which is 'an existential threat'.
Combating air pollution requires a holistic and integrated approach across economies and regions of the world. There is need for feasible technological innovations, their applications to reduce emission of pollutants in the air, better urban planning, green technologies, circular economy, taxing pollution, and much more.
Devdiscourse, as a socially responsible media platform, strongly feels the need of holistic dialogue across societies and involving more and more people in the discourse on air pollution.
Live Discourse on Right to Breath Clean Air: Technology, Trends and Narratives is a platform for all those who have something to share on minimizing air pollution and increasing the opportunity for 'Right to Breath Clean Air'. Here you can share you views, send write ups, pictures, videos, technological solutions etc. related to air pollution. We will also update you on latest news, views, interviews and technological advances related to minimizing and mitigating air pollution.
Delhi Congress chief Shubhash Chopra claimed on Saturday that more than 60,000 people have died of pollution-related health problems in the national capital in the last five years. Addressing a congregation of Purvanchalis here, he claimed that 58 people die of breathing problems every day while it is difficult to count the number of people who have died due to polluted water in the national capital.
Also Read: Over 60,000 people in Delhi died of pollution-related health problems in last 5 yrs: Cong
Australian government claims to have provided 5 million P2 face masks to people to fight air pollution caused by bush fires. The land devastated by Australian fires is more than half of the England’s total area.
Also Read: Australia declares all-out war against bushfires, deploys Army, Navy and Air Force
AUSTRALIA:My country is burning the size of Belgium. My country has lost 480 MILLION wildlife creaturesMy country have lost our homes, our people & thousands fighting or displacedMy country needs a global outcry of supportPLEASE HELP US#AustraliaOnFire #AustraliaBurning pic.twitter.com/Bbr76BZc8y
— Hugo Girl Boss 👊 (@Mazzy_73) January 3, 2020
In the worst ever bushres in Australia at least 17 people and 480 wild animals have been burnt to death. According to Australian authorities about 1400 houses were destroyed and over 30,000 people had to escape from their homes.
WHY ARE WE NOT TALKING ABOUT THIS? WHY IS THIS NOT ALL OVER THE NEWS? PEOPLE AND ANIMALS ARE DYING AND HUGE AMOUNTS OF CO2 IS BEING RELEASED INTO THE ATMOSPHERE. WAKE TF UP #AustraliaBurning #AustraliaOnFire #australiaisburning pic.twitter.com/iyseUlZofW
— sophie (@afterheroo) January 3, 2020
Also Read: Next 24 to 48 hours crucial for bushfire conditions in Australia: Scott Morrison
South Korea, the fourth largest economy of India, has shut down 10 of its coal fired power plants and plans to close five more to curbn air pollution. Presently, South Korea has 41 coal fired power plants that fulfill the need of it's 80 percent electricity requirements. The country is gradually moving towards LNG, and nuclar energy.
S.Korea shuts down 10 coal-fired power plants to curb pollution
The AQI has crossed 400 marks at several stations of the Central Pollution Control Board. It’s not only during the night hours, the air quality is very low in Delhi throughout the day.
Also Read: Air pollution in Delhi rises to severe but farmers not responsible
Former Secretary General of the United Nations Mr. Ban Ki Moon has exhorted the G 20 member nations to act as determined enablers and catalysts at the time of climate emergency. He is presently Vice Chairperson of The Elders (https://www.theelders.org/who-we-are), an independent forum of senior eminent personalities founded by Nelson Mandela.
Also Read: Climate Emergency: G 20 nations need to be determined enablers says Ban Ki Moon
Expressing serious concerns on the adverse effects of climate change being faced by smaller economies, the Secretary-General of the United Nations Mr. Antonio Guterres on Monday said that the smaller countries and islands are the most sufferes though they are least responsible for emission of greenhouse gases. He was speaking in the opening ceremony of COP 25 on Monday, December 2, 2019 in Madrid.
The great injustice of the climate crisis is that its effects fall most on those least responsible for it - @antonioguterres commits to continue fighting for ambitious climate action and for small islands and least developed countries. Remarks: https://t.co/ES1mY1fVnh #COP25 pic.twitter.com/IR6kd16dD7
— UN Spokesperson (@UN_Spokesperson) December 2, 2019
He also exhorted the governments throughout the world to be more ambitious in reducing carbon emissons. "It is imperative that the governments not only honour their national contributions under the Paris Agreement, they need to substantially increase their ambition," said Guterres.
.@UN Chief @antonioguterres at #COP25: "Today, we need to reduce emissions by 7.6 % each year. So, it is imperative that governments not only honour their national contributions under the #ParisAgreement, they need to substantially increase their ambition." #TimeForAction pic.twitter.com/rTEbinZRo4
— UN Climate Change (@UNFCCC) December 2, 2019
Students and youths are enthusiastically responding to the call for protest on November 29 to save the planet from 'climate emergency'(#Climatestrike). The protest is being coordinated by the Fridays for Future (FFF) which has planned a series of protests to press the governments for implementing Paris Agreement at COP 25 to cut emissions so that the target of preventing global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2030 could be achieved. This is the fourth edition of Climate Strike and has been named as – Global Strike 4 Future – November 29, 2019. So far, a total of 6,600 cities from 200 countries have participated in 64,000 Climate Strike events.
A report of the United Nations ‘emission gap’ has warned that if present status of emission of greenhouse gases continues, the temperature of the Earth will rise about 3.2 by the end of this century. This will cause rise in the Sea level making huge part of the planet non-inhabitable. The report has urged the economies to join hands for collective efforts in reducing emissions.
“We can still limit the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius but it will take a huge effort from governments, cities, businesses and investors,” tweeted Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of UN Climate Change. She also urged the world leaders to take concreate decisions for reducing emissions at United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNCCC) being organised in Madrid city of Spain from December 2-13.
The @UNEP #EmissionsGap report shows we can still limit the global average temperature rise to 1.5°C. But it will take a huge effort from governments, cities, businesses and investors, at #COP25 and beyond. The time for transformational change is NOW >> https://t.co/Qej8iA91mb pic.twitter.com/sgW0iEloaW
— Patricia Espinosa C. (@PEspinosaC) November 26, 2019
Also Read: Emissions need to fall by 7.6 percent for limiting global temperature: UN report
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