Clean Air Day 2020

Celebrate Clean Air Day on June 3rd! Let’s recognize how important good air quality is to our health, our environment, and the economy.

Air pollution is a problem, both on a global scale and for local communities. It is one of the most significant environmental challenges affecting public health, and one of the most avoidable causes of death and disease.  Evidence shows that exposure to air pollution increases susceptibility to respiratory viral infections and pneumonia. This suggests that people exposed to higher levels of air pollution may be at greater risk of becoming ill with COVID-19, with an increase in frequency of the most severe outcomes.

The Government of Canada is taking action on air pollution to ensure that Canadians have clean air and a healthier environment. We are also working to address sources of air pollution around the world through the United Nations and leading on important initiatives such as the Powering Past Coal Alliance.

Our individual and collective actions contribute to the quality of the air. So let’s do our part to protect and preserve it for future generations.

Clean Air Day at home

As many Canadians continue to practice physical distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have online resources to help you recognize the importance of clean air at home. Check out the following links to learn about air quality, how to protect yourself against air pollution and what you can do to help keep the air we breathe clean.

National

• I care about clean air because… [PDF; 185 kB]: tell us why clean air is important to you and share it on your social media channels. Don’t forget to tag us on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. A low-colour version [PDF; 318 kB] is also available.
• Mysteries of air pollution: join our scientist Elisabeth Galarneau through a virtual classroom as she uncovers little known facts about air pollution. Presented through Exploring By the Seat of Your Pants.
• Health impacts of air pollution in Canada: This infographic helps you understand the impacts air pollution can cause on your health and how to protect yourself.
  
• Air quality and health publications: browse infographics, posters and lesson plan for parents and teachers to learn about air pollution, its effects on health and how to protect yourself against it
• Improve your indoor air quality! Learn about the causes of poor indoor air quality.
• Wild about wildfire: Wildfires are a growing international concern. Unlike other air pollution typically found in urban environments, smoke can move in and out of a community rapidly and make the air unsafe very quickly. Read more about what Health Canada is doing on wildfire smoke in this blog post.
  
• State of the Air report: learn about air pollution, Canada’s air quality and how governments work together to protect it
• Clean Air 20/20 program (Clean Air Partnership): Practical guide to cutting your energy use by 20% at home and on the road

British Columbia

• COVID-19 and wildfire smoke webinar (British Columbia Lung Association): join expert panelists in this webinar as they cover the existing health evidence, populations most at risk, and strategies for health protection during the ongoing pandemic.
• Bike to work/school week (British Columbia)

Manitoba

• Clean Air Day Manitoba

Ontario

• Let’s Talk: A Kit for Communicating with Children about Climate Change: this toolkit will help parents and teachers to empower children to tackle climate change issues and address concerns affecting their physical and mental health and wellbeing.
• Clearing the Air: this report shows how electric vehicles and cleaner trucks can reduce pollution, improve health and save lives in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.

Nova Scotia

• Green Schools Nova Scotia: join the province’s at-home webinars, get craft ideas, play games, conduct experiments while learning about saving energy to protect the environment

International

• Breathe Life 2030: Find out air pollution levels in your city and learn about global air pollution issues.