SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being | SDG 13: Climate Action
Institutions: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change | Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies is observed annually on 7 September, designated by UN General Assembly resolution 74/212 (2019). The 2025 theme, “Racing for Air,” links clean air to human performance, equity, and collective urgency, reframing the narrative from pollution to solutions.
Air pollution remains the second leading cause of premature death globally, responsible for approximately 8.1 million deaths per year due to stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and respiratory infections. Nearly 99% of the world’s population inhales air containing pollutants exceeding WHO safety standards. UNEP stresses that improving air quality supports health, resilient communities, thriving economies, and environmental recovery. To this end, it calls for a strengthened global coalition to deliver clean air for all.
Simultaneously, WHO Europe reports that within its region, ambient air pollution causes over 570,000 deaths annually, while indoor air pollution contributes another 154,000 deaths. The bulk of these fatalities arise from noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular conditions, lung cancer, and respiratory illnesses. WHO Europe seeks accelerated, equitable transition to cleaner energy, improved air quality standards, and adoption of a voluntary target to halve air pollution’s health burden by 2040, integrated into its updated Global Roadmap for Air Pollution Response (2025).
Relevant question for policy stakeholders:
How can India operationalize the “Racing for Air” momentum by setting national targets, such as halving pollution-linked health impacts by 2040, while investing in clean energy, improving indoor and outdoor air quality, and coordinating across ministries for inclusive, climate-compatible solutions?
Follow the full details here:
UNEP overview: https://www.unep.org/events/un-day/international-day-clean-air-blue-skies-2025
WHO Europe summary: https://www.who.int/europe/news-room/events/item/2025/09/07/default-calendar/international-day-of-clean-air-for-blue-skies--making-every-breath-matter