The United Nations General Assembly has designated 7th September as the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies. This year the theme is ‘Healthy Air, Healthy Planet’ which emphasizes the health effects of air pollution, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

So what does that mean? It means that clean air and blue skies are our right -- we need to band together and demand for it.

We are taking the opportunity today to demand for the implementation of the Clean Air Action Plan for our cities. This Plan has clear action points that your city can implement to ensure the air doesn’t get further polluted, and it also ensures the eventual reduction of pollution.

Additionally, we also need vital public health advisories to be issued widely in the mainstream public domain so we can all protect ourselves and our loved ones on ‘bad air days’.

The Government’s detailed plan to clean the air must be in the public domain and we need to get together to hold them accountable to those plans. Most Urban Local Bodies/ Municipalities have the responsibility to implement up to 40% of the actions listed in the city’s Clean Air Action Plan, including issuing Public Health Advisories.

Join citizens from 132 other such non-attainment cities like yours in demanding for the timely issuance of public health advisories. Let the government know you are aware of the time bound action points listed in your city’s Clean Air Action Plan. Let them hear your demand for the clean air and planet you deserve!

Select your city from the drop down and add your name to the campaign. By doing so an email will go out to your city’s urban local body/Municipality representative. To make things easier we have drafted a letter already, but please feel free to make edits and send it in your own words. It will only take a few minutes.

• https://www.un.org/en/observances/clean-air-day,
• https://cpcb.nic.in/approved-city-action-plans/
• http://health.delhigovt.nic.in/wps/wcm/connect/be21a600