Air Quality Awareness Week
Without air, life on Earth would cease to exist! Clean air is necessary not only for humans and other animals, but also for plants and entire ecosystems to survive and thrive. When the quality of the air is compromised, it can affect the health of everyone – leading to health issues such as breathing problems, lung issues and allergies, or even cancers and death.
National Air Quality Awareness Week seeks to bring information and education to individuals and communities, encouraging them to act wisely on behalf of the air they breathe personally, but also for every species of living thing who shares the planet!
How to Celebrate National Air Quality Awareness Week
Host a Community Awareness Event
One way to get more people involved locally might be to host an event in honor of National Air Quality Awareness Week.
Schools, community centers, nature preserves, healthcare organizations and others can collaborate to put on a Community Health Fair. Include a poster creation contest to get artists involved, or a coloring contest for the younger participants.
Support Air Quality Non-Profit Organizations
National Air Quality Awareness Week might serve as a motivator for some folks to take action when it comes to preserving health through clean air.
Get engaged by volunteering with or making a financial donation to such an organization, like Clean Air Fund, The Clean Air Task Force, Coalition for Clean Air and many others.
Get Educated About Air Quality
One of the main purposes behind Air Quality Awareness Week is to bring attention to some of the important issues that can help to prevent or reduce problems with air quality.
Be sure to share with friends, co-workers or an online audience to increase the reach of this important event!
- Air pollution is the largest environmental threat to the the health of the human population worldwide
- 85% of all global air pollution comes from burning fossil fuels and biomass (like wood or household waste)
- Air pollution impacts the global economy, costing billions in health care, lost work and more
- Climate change can increase wildfires which, in turn, cause major air quality problems
History of National Air Quality Awareness Week
Dedicated to educating the public about the importance of working to protect air quality, National Air Quality Awareness Week had its beginnings through grassroots efforts dating back to 1999.
This initiative of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a collaborative effort with several interested parties and agencies, including the CDC, US Forest Service, US Department of Energy and a few others.
Each year, the organizers of National Air Quality Awareness Week announce a theme that provides focus for ways to observe and celebrate this event. Some of the past themes of events have included:
- Knowing Your Air (2024)
- Working Together for Clean Air (2023)
- Be Air Aware and Prepared (2022)
- Healthy Air – Important for Everyone (2021)
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