UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Thursday adopted a resolution to designate Sept. 7 as the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, to be observed starting 2020.
Clean air is important for the health and day-to-day lives of people, and air pollution is the single greatest environmental risk to human health and one of the main avoidable causes of death and disease globally, the resolution says.
The UNGA emphasized the need to strengthen international cooperation at the global, regional and subregional levels in various areas related to improving air quality, including the collection and utilization of data, joint research and development, and the sharing of best practices.
The UNGA also acknowledged the importance of an urgent need to raise public awareness at all levels and to promote and facilitate actions to improve air quality, bearing in mind that clean air is important for the health and livelihood of people.
The resolution invites the international community to observe the international day in an appropriate manner and in accordance with national priorities, and to continue to give consideration to enhancing international cooperation in support of the efforts of all member states toward attaining clean air.
It also stresses that the cost of all activities that may arise should be met from voluntary contributions.
