With 99 percent of the world's population breathing dangerous air, airborne pollutants pose the greatest direct environmental health dangers of our time. More than 6.7 million people die prematurely each year as a result of air pollution, which also causes lung and heart disease, cancer, and other illnesses.
In order to learn how the globe can combat the effects of air pollution, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) sat down with Martina Otto, the director of the coalition's secretariat, on the fourth annual Clean Air Day. The International Day of Clean Air is observed annually on September 7 in honor of clear skies. The purpose of the day is to promote awareness of air quality issues and encourage action. There is an international call to innovate, to lessen the quantity of air pollution we produce, and to guarantee that everyone, everywhere can exercise their right to breathe clean air.