The United Nations is observing its very first International Day of Clean Air for blue skies today. The day has been chosen to raise public awareness at all levels – individual, community, corporate, and government about clean air and how it is important for health, productivity, the economy, and the environment.
The UN also aims to demonstrate the close link of air quality to other environmental/developmental challenges such as climate change and the global Sustainable Development goals. In order to achieve cleaner air, they are also promoting and facilitating solutions that improve air quality by sharing actionable knowledge, best practices, innovations, and success stories.
The goal is to bring together diverse international actors working on this topic to form a strategic alliance to gain momentum for concerted national, regional, and international approaches for effective air quality management.
Breathe easy!
Why #warriormoms are fighting for our right to clean & unpolluted air.
#cleanairbharatCome, join the revolution!
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To mark this very day, a group of environmentally conscious mothers from all over India launched their campaign against air pollution. The group called ‘Warrior Moms’ came together to fight for their right to breathe – a basic necessity which should not be a fight at all.
Air pollution is an invisible killer and there have been multiple studies to prove that.
In December last year, the Global Alliance on Health and Air Pollution said that India leads the world in pollution-related deaths. This year the Indian government has been in a hurry to pass the draft EIA notification 2020, which dilutes environmental laws in favor of industries and can make air pollution mitigation a huge challenge. To make things worse, the nation has also failed in meeting the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) targets. There has been negligible progress in making industries and thermal power plants reduce their emissions.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has pointed out that children, especially below the age of five years, are more vulnerable to the harmful effects of air pollution. Exposure to Ambient Air Pollution (AAP) can lead to adverse birth outcomes, like low birth weight, preterm birth, and stillbirth. It can impair nervous development; mental and motor development and lead to childhood cancers, chronic lung infections, asthma, and even obesity – the list is long and ominous.
Likewise, Mrs. Anuja dreams of a sustainable world for the upcoming generations. She seeks changes at the individual and administrative levels simultaneously to make the world a better place to live in.
“Our children need to breathe clean – it is their right and as mothers will ensure that they get what they are entitled to. Nature has shown us that if we try to change our lifestyle and behavior, we can survive in a cleaner, greener environment. The destination to clean air for all requires us and the government to work together. Things can be done differently, and sustainably. In a green and clean world, the crisis of COVID and air pollution can be dealt with in a better way. And mothers – the strongest pillars of the society can definitely bring about the change,” says Mrs. Anuja from Pune.
In the coming days, Warrior Moms will be reaching out to more mothers across the country through awareness sessions on health and the impact of polluted air on children.
You could be a warrior mom too. To join the brigade, click here.