According to the UN website, the high incidence of this scourge makes it the second leading cause of death worldwide, even more so than tobacco.

On the occasion of the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, celebrated every September 7, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) remembered the debilitating and often lethal consequences of air pollution, which in 2021 caused approximately 8.1 million premature deaths.

It emphasized that we are all exposed to exhaust pipes, factory smoke, smoke from forest fires, and other polluting sources.

However, the UN praised Latin America’s progress in the fight against this type of pollution, as the region has long promoted collective initiatives with the support of UNEP and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

The joint effort consists of regional cooperation through a network on air pollution, technical training and seminars on air quality management and health, and support for the development of national air quality legislation.

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