Clean Air Day in Canada

Since 1999, Canada has recognized the first Wednesday in June as Clean Air Day.

Recognizing this day helps remind us of the importance of clean air for good health and a clean environment. While air quality in Canada is relatively good, air pollution continues to impact our environment and health.

Air pollution can lead to heart and lung diseases, stroke, lung cancer, and premature death. In fact, there is no safe level of exposure to many air pollutants. Harm is caused even at low levels. In Canada, air pollution contributes to around 17,400 deaths each year and the annual cost of health impacts is estimated at $146 billion. Air pollution harms wildlife, vegetation and crops, and damages our buildings. It also contributes to other environmental issues, including biodiversity loss and climate change.

Air pollution in Canada comes from several sources, including human-caused and natural. Human-caused sources include the burning of fossil fuels for:

Natural sources of air pollution from wildfires, dust and pollen are becoming more of a concern due to climate change. Air pollution, including wildfire smoke, can travel great distances. This can impact other countries and all areas of Canada at times. Canada's air quality is similarly impacted by air pollution from other countries.

On June 4, this year's Clean Air Day, learn about where air pollution in your community comes from and what is being done to protect our air quality by working with others, including:

Clean Air Day also provides you the chance to learn about actions you can take to improve air quality, like,

You can also learn about the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI), a tool that helps you stay safe when air quality is poor.

Together, we can take action to reduce our own emissions to contribute to cleaner air for everyone.

Celebrate Clean Air Day

Find resources, ideas, and ways to get involved with Clean Air Day from our partners:

Watch and listen

Deep Breath, Deep Dive: Air Quality and Your Health

Watch season 2, episode 4 of the Healthy Canadians podcast. Hosts Megan Beahen and Alex Newman sit down with Angelos Anastasopolos, PhD, Scientist with the Water and Air Quality Bureau at Health Canada to explore how air quality can affect our health and what we can do about it. The Healthy Canadians podcast is produced by Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada. It provides a space for nuanced conversations and expert insights on health topics that matter to all of us.

This is a great episode to learn about the complex conversations around air quality and your health.

Learn

Air pollution and air quality in Canada

Learn about Canada’s air quality and sources of air pollution.

Air quality and health

Learn about the effects of air pollution on your health and how to protect yourself.

Indoor air quality

Find out how you can make the air inside your home safer to breathe.

Government of Canada actions to reduce air pollution

Find out how we’re keeping the air clean through research, regulations, investments and international agreements.

Page details

Date modified: