Reiterating our collective commitment to Paris Climate Agreement, nearly 1500 children from Delhi-NCR today joined a national movement for clean air, pledging to take positive steps to achieve the same at the inaugural edition of Good Air Summit organized by the Integrated Health & Wellbeing (IHW) Council. Underlining that clean air is an inalienable right, experts advocated the need for concerted efforts to allow citizens access to breathable air.

The 1st edition of the Good Air Summit is a part of a larger movement for Good Air by health advocacy IHW Council that seeks to reach 50 crore people by 2025. The first of its kind people-led initiative seeks to make the environment a prominent public health issue. The event was attended by Hon’ble Justice Swatanter Kumar, Former Supreme Court Judge and Former Chairperson, National Green Tribunal (NGT), Dr Ajay Mathur, Director General, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), and Dr A K Agarwal, Chairman, Motherland International Foundation at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium here.

“There are at least 10 sources of air pollution that affect both outdoor and indoor air quality, starting from widespread construction activities to the burning of waste and crops, and vehicular pollution. But is clean air not the right of a citizen? Is not essential to exercise the right to life as guaranteed by the Indian Constitution? We are flouting what Gandhiji asked us to do that we should give the earth to our next generation at least in the condition in which we got it. We need to think why there are no solutions to the waste disposal other than burning them – burning of plastic is carcinogenic and is the cause for most of the cancers. Almost 70 per cent of Delhi is bumper to bumper due to cars – why can’t we have destination buses or incentives for people who do away with the old vehicles? My message to all of you is, please rise to the occasion,” says Hon’ble Justice Swatanter Kumar, Former Supreme Court Judge and Former Chairperson, National Green Tribunal (NGT) during his address at the summit.

The Summit was a culmination of a year-long drive to sensitise people, particularly students about the need to adopt environmentally-friendly lifestyles.

“Through our campaigns, we have reached out to students and citizens across the country in a bid to bring about a change in public behaviour and make the environment a central issue in public discourse. Our campaigns in various schools gave us a fantastic experience and the enthusiasm of the students was infectious. On a day when most people will prefer not going out, small children braved all challenges and came here to join this mammoth task. I believe children will be instrumental in bringing about a positive change in our collective consciousness towards the environment,” said Kamal Narayan - CEO, Integrated Health & Wellbeing (IHW) Council.

Prakash Javadekar, Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, who could not be present due to ill health congratulated the effort through a video message. “We are a part of the environment and it is a very important part of our lives. Plant trees, save water, and conserve energy – we should make every effort to save our environment,” he said.

Students of 17 educational institutions, including schools, colleges, universities, and research institutions brimmed with joy as they saw 10 students being awarded the title of ‘Young Ambassadors of Good Air’. Curious and articulate students shared the dais with representatives of the government and renowned activists and portrayed their creative side with skits and musical performances to present their views on the increasing gravity of air pollution.

The Indian Council of Medical Research estimates that air pollution caused one in eight deaths in India last year, besides lowering the average life expectancy by 1.7 years. Air pollution causes approximately 7 million deaths every year globally. Polluting particles were recently found to have penetrated the placental protection in the womb. The Good Air Movement is a nationwide drive that aims to create mass awareness and mobilize public action towards good air goals. The movement began in Delhi – NCR and aims to cover the entire length and breadth of India from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and Ahmadabad to Aizawl by 2025 and engage and educate 50 crore people.