Building back better: Why we must address air pollution to tackle public health and climate change
Air pollution is a two-fold problem with consequences for both health and climate. It is a major cause of health issues, contributing to 1 in 10 deaths globally, and significantly contributes to climate change in the form of Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs). The global lockdown in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has transformed the way we live and work. The response has significantly reduced (some) air pollution around the world, and people are seeing blue skies for the first time in their lives. Meanwhile, there is growing evidence to suggest that exposure to air pollution can increase the severity and number of deaths caused by COVID-19. As the world looks at how to recover from COVID-19, there is a unique opportunity to ‘build back better’ by addressing air pollution.
The webinar will host an expert panel to explore the links between air pollution, health and climate, and discuss holistic solutions to address these issues. This webinar is part of the UN’s International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies and draws on the experiences of experts to understand how to address the air pollution problem in a holistic way, and through multiple approaches.
Time: 15:00 - 16:30 BST