Sejong, September 13 ? On September 7, in celebration of the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs jointly held a ceremony. This year marks the third International Day of Clean Air for blue skies. The Korean government proposed, and the United Nations designated September 7 as the  International Day of Clean Air for blue skies to raise public awareness at all levels and to promote and facilitate actions to improve air quality. The official ceremony was held online at 2 PM on September 7 via the Environment Ministry's Youtube channel and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) website (cleanairblueskies.org). 

As set by the UNEP, this year's theme of "The Air We Share" focuses on the transboundary nature of air pollution, stressing the need for cooperation to tackle air pollution. The Ministry of Environment set its own theme of "The Air We Share, Clean Air Depends on You" stressing the need for collective action to protect air quality.  

The ministry held various promotional events for the citizens to participate in and commemorate the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies. The ministry hosted a walking campaign through its official social media account. It also built a virtual reality space, allowing users to learn and experience how to reduce ultrafine particles. Furthermore, commemorative events took place in Busan, Incheon, Daejeon, and Chungcheongnam-do, including an international forum in Gyeonggi-do and a campaign to use public transport in Chungcheongbuk-do.

On September 8 at 10 AM, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held the 2nd International Forum for Response to Transboundary Air Pollution in Seoul. The forum was organized under the theme of "Direction of Collaboration for Joint Response to Air Pollution in Northeast Asia and the Asia Pacific" to discuss air pollution issues using Geostationary Environment Monitoring Spectrometer data.

The UN also held a variety of events from September 7 to 8. UN hosted a commemorative ceremony at its headquarters in New York, US, and the UNEP held various events at the UNEP headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. Washington D.C., Beijing, and other major cities worldwide celebrated Blue Skies Day. The UNEP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok and the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific jointly hosted a commemorative event. South Korea shared how it monitors air pollution using environmental satellites in the event.

Korean Environment Minister Han Wha-jin said, "I wish to urge everyone to take action for a clear and pollution-free sky." She added, "I hope people ruminate over the meaning of the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies through this event and work hard to prevent and reduce air pollution to improve air quality."

Contact: Kang In-sook, Deputy Director

Air Quality Policy Division / +82-(0)44-201-6879

Foreign Media Contact: Chun Minjo(Rachel)

+82-(0)44-201-6055 / rachelmchun@korea.kr