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International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies: together for clean air
07. 09. 2023 Ovzdušie
Air pollution is the greatest environmental health risk affecting all of humanity, responsible for more than 6 million premature deaths worldwide. That is why protecting the air and ensuring healthy air is a global challenge. On September 7, we remember the importance of air quality thanks to the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies.
This year's slogan of the campaign is "Together for clean air". On this day, the United Nations Environment Organization (UNEP) emphasizes the efforts that need to be made to achieve better air quality. The goal is to improve living conditions for residents and minimize the negative effects of air pollution on health and the environment.
The Ministry of the Environment of the Slovak Republic (MoE SR) is aware that Slovakia is facing problems with air quality, so it is making every effort to avert this negative phenomenon. This year, it submitted a new law on air protection, which, after approval in parliament, entered into force on July 1, 2023. Its goal is to introduce new rules for maintaining and ensuring air quality; strengthening the powers of air protection authorities, including the performance of inspections; introduction of a permit for a stationary source of pollution; ban on burning solid secondary fuels.
Since January 2020, the MoE SR has been implementing the project LIFE IP – Improving air quality (Populair), supported by the European Union, which focuses on building professional capacities and spreading awareness about air quality. At the end of the year, the mobile application "Dnes dýcham" was made available for download to the public, in which they can monitor the current state of air quality every day and set notifications for selected places.
Another important activity was the informative measurement of air pollution from traffic in the vicinity of selected schools using passive meters. Fortytwo schools from all over Slovakia took part in this activity, and during one month, students monitored meteorological conditions and other factors affecting air quality, while the results of the measurements were processed into a poster.
Since awareness of air quality is still low in Slovakia, Populair aims to spread awareness through various channels. He informs about the topics of better air protection, proper heating and sustainable mobility at events, festivals, in schools, in shops and on social networks throughout the year.
To improve the atmosphere, sometimes it only takes a small change in the behavior and habits of individuals to achieve the desired results. Today is a reminder that clean air and blue skies are the basic rights of every citizen and it is up to all of us to work together to achieve this goal and leave future generations with an environment that is healthy, sustainable and full of life.