FINAL PROJECT REPORT

Submitted To: Miss Sabaina Tahir

Subject: Environmental Science (SS-141-Z)

BS CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY (SEMESTER-2)
(Fall 2023-24)
 Group Members

Name: Farwa
Roll no 23201090002

Name: Mahnoor
Roll no 23201090004

Name: Tehreem Maqsood

Roll no 23201090007

Name: Fatima Moazzam

Roll no 23201090010
Topic Title:
UN Environment Programme
(Air Pollution)

United Nations Environment Programme:

UNEP provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment
by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and its people to improve their quality
of life without compromising that of future generations.

50 years of UNEP:
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is celebrating its 50th
anniversary in 2022. Founded in 1972 following the landmark UN Conference on
the Human Environment, UNEP was conceived to monitor the state of the
environment, inform policy making with science and coordinate responses to the
world’s environmental challenges.
Since its creation, UNEP has worked closely with its 193 Member States and other
stakeholders to galvanize worldwide commitments and coordinated action to address
many of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. It also played a leading
role as the docking station for 15 multilateral environmental agreements.
1979- Convention on long-range transboundary air pollution.
1987- UNEP facilitated the Montreal Protocol.
1992- UN framework on climate change.
2015- Paris agreement.

Air Pollution – Deadly Effects on Life:

Air Pollution hurts the planet with increasingly deadly effects on life, the United
Nations Environment warns, calling on countries to take measures to usher in a
greener, cleaner and more sustainable future. Member States, civil society and
environmental activists attended the United Nations Environment Assembly this
week in Nairobi, Kenya. At the One Planet Summit, its high-level segment, UN's
Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said that she had been inspired by the
ideas discussed at the conference – the world’s highest-level decision-making body
on the environment – in support of UN environment’s (UNEP) #SolveDifferent
campaign to find innovative solutions to environmental challenges. She urged the
audience, which included Heads of State and government ministers, to “reshape the
global economy into one that rewards careful stewardship and punishes waste and
pollution.”
Addressing the main topic of the Assembly – the need to shift to sustainable forms
of consumption and production – the deputy UN chief reminded the audience that
we are all living with negative consequences of the current “Take, Make and
Dispose” global economic model.
A United Nations report earlier underlined that 7 million people die prematurely
because of air pollution-related effects.

UN Environment Programme - Asia and The Pacific:

In 41 countries across Asia and the Pacific, the UN Environment Programme is
helping to protect the planet.
Using science and evidence to inform policy.
UNEP is working for:
Help countries become climate-resilient.
100 government officers from 36 countries trained on climate change adaptation.
Make cities more liveable-16 countries have resolved to improve air quality.
25 solutions identified to have 1 billion people breathing clean air by 2030.
13 countries committed to the Kigali Amendment to phase out 98 ozone-depleting
substances.
Programme to promote energy-efficient appliances rolled out across ASEAN.
UN Secretary-General Message:
THE SECRETARY-GENERAL MESSAGE ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF
CLEAN AIR FOR BLUE SKIES.

7 September 2022,

In July this year, nations recognized the universal right to a clean, healthy and
sustainable environment.

Clean air is now a human right.

A stable climate is a human right.

Healthy nature is a human right.

Today, air pollution is denying billions of people of their rights.

Dirty air affects 99 per cent of people on the planet.

The poor suffer worst.

Especially women and girls, whose health suffers by cooking and heating with dirty
fuels.

The poor also live in areas choked with fumes from traffic and industry.

Air pollutants also cause global warming.

Wildfires are further polluting the air.

When people are exposed to air pollution and extreme heat, their risk of death is
some 20 per cent higher.

Climate change and air pollution are a deadly duo.

On this third International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, I call on all countries to
work together to combat air pollution.

We know what to do.

Invest in renewable energy and swiftly transition away from fossil fuels.

Rapidly move to zero-emission vehicles and alternative modes of transport.

Increase access to clean cooking, heating and cooling.

Recycle waste instead of burning it.

These actions would save millions of lives each year, slow climate change and speed
up sustainable development.

Air pollution knows no borders.

So, nations must work together.

Let’s monitor air pollution.

Make laws to meet World Health Organization Air Quality Guidelines.

And deliver credible plans to reduce emissions from vehicles, power plants,
construction and industries.

Together, we can reduce air pollution and keep people and the planet healthy and
safe.

Methane emissions from African oil and gas industry:

Emissions of methane, the second biggest driver of global warming, have soared
faster than at any time since the 1980s. Fortunately, methane can be a solution:
slashing emissions of this powerful greenhouse gas is the single fastest way to tackle
climate change in the short-term.
To pave the way for a net-zero world, the United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP) conducted a first-of-its-kind scientific study to measure methane emissions
from the oil and gas sector in Africa – a previously unmeasured region. Because if
you can’t measure it, you can’t fix it. Besides, the greatest potential to achieve rapid
methane emissions reductions is in the fossil fuel sector.

The study is led and funded by the International Methane Emissions Observatory
(IMEO), a UNEP initiative to drive action on methane. Find out more about IMEO’s
work on methane here: https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/e...

UNEP is at the forefront of methane emissions reduction in line with the Paris
Agreement goal of keeping global temperature rise well below 2°C. UNEP’s work
revolves around two pillars: data and policy. UNEP supports companies and
governments across the globe to use its unique global database of empirically
verified methane emissions to target strategic mitigation actions and support science-
based policy options through the International Methane Emissions Observatory
(IMEO). UNEP also fosters high-level commitments through advocacy work and
supports countries to implement measures that reduce methane emissions through
the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC). Both initiatives are core implementers
of the Global Methane Pledge.

Tech Against Air Pollution in India:

Vidyut Mohan (India) co-founded Takachar, which builds affordable and portable
biomass upgrading equipment, allowing farmers to earn extra income and prevent
open burning by converting crop waste into fuels, fertilizers and activated carbon.

“The open burning of agricultural residues is a big source of air pollution in many
parts of the world,” says Mark Radka, chief of the energy and climate branch at
UNEP’s Economy Division. “The practice also contributes to climate change by
releasing tiny particles of black carbon into the atmosphere. Takachar’s innovative
technology can help farmers turn what is currently thought of as waste into a
valuable resource while helping clean up our environment.”

The Young Champions of the Earth prize is the United Nations Environment
Programme's leading initiative to engage youth in tackling the world's most pressing
environmental challenges. Seven winners were announced in December 2020. The
winners are given funding and mentorship to support their environmental initiative.
Since its inception in 2017, 28 environmental trailblazers have been recognized from
every corner of the globe.

Pollution Pods - Experiencing air pollution:

Interactive art pieces, known as Pollution Pods, were recently brought to Madrid for
the UN Climate Conference. Made up of five distinct domes, visitors can experience
air pollution levels in Norway, London, New Delhi, Beijing and São Paulo. The
interactive experience is part of the UNEP Breathe Life campaign, which works with
governments around the world to raise awareness and take action on air pollution.

Hard to Breathe: Afghanistan Air Pollution:

Fatima from Afghanistan talks about the challenges of air pollution from cooking on
a fire indoors. 27,000 deaths a year in Afghanistan is attributed to indoor air
pollution. UN Environment designed and distributed clean cook stoves benefiting
women and young children.

Sarajevo Air - Air pollution in the Balkans:

Thermal power plants that use low quality coal and household heating are the main
sources of particulate matter emissions that are cutting down 1.3 years of life, on
average, from people living in Western Balkan cities.
Preliminary results from a report led by UN Environment show that the total number
of premature deaths directly attributable to air pollution in the cities studies has risen
to nearly 5,000 a year. In the region, levels of particulate matter can be over five
times higher than World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.
Measures to alleviate energy poverty by making modern clean energy more
accessible, along with more stringent regulations on industrial emitters and
restrictions on coal thermal power stations are therefore crucial to reduce air
pollution and its health impacts on citizens.
UN Environment has helped Bosnia and Herzegovina to install and refurbish air
quality monitoring stations and has contributed to the creation of a national air
quality index, allowing people to easily understand air quality data and its
implications.
In Sarajevo, a new mobile phone app commissioned by UN Environment has been
launched to make the invisible visible and help citizens avoid air pollution while
walking or cycling. The ‘Sarajevo Air’ app calculates the lowest pollution route
between any two points in the city. Estimated levels of PM10, PM2.5, nitrogen
dioxide, ozone pollution and the time required are shown for each route.

Rocket launches pollution detecting satellite:

The recently launched satellite "Copernicus Sentinel-5P" is sending images from
space that show polluting gases which are invisible to the human eye.
Data produced by the Sentinel-5P satellite is will be fully free and open to everyone.
Satellite data is just one piece of the puzzle.
UN Environment is developing low-cost, ground-based sensors to assess air
pollution levels.

The End…