Highlights: Kenya: air pollution at the heart of a conference in Nairobi. The 2024 Climate and Clean Air Conference opens this Wednesday, February 21. 86 states and 83 non-state partners will develop a common program in key emitting sectors. Air pollution still responsible for more than seven million deaths per year, according to the World Health Organization. The root causes are linked to climate change, intensive farming, the large number of vehicles on the road and obsolete boilers. The global commitment to reducing methane emissions, taken in 2021, is a major step forward, provided that it is developed on a large scale.

The 2024 Climate and Clean Air Conference opens this Wednesday, February 21 in Nairobi, Kenya, on the sidelines of the sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly, which will be held…

Kenya: air pollution at the heart of a conference in Nairobi

The 2024 Climate and Clean Air Conference opens this Wednesday, February 21 in Nairobi, Kenya, on the sidelines of the sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly, which will be held at the end of the month in the Kenyan capital.

A fog of pollution over the Indian capital, New Delhi, one of the most polluted cities in the world, on November 3, 2023. (Illustrative image). © Shonal Ganguly / AP

By: RFI Follow

For three days, starting Wednesday February 21 in Kenya, 86 states and 83 non-state partners will develop a common program "

in key emitting sectors such as agriculture, waste, fossil fuels, domestic energy, vehicles and heavy engines and cooling

,” indicates the

Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) on its website

The goal ?

Slowing down the climate crisis

, “

fighting poverty and inequalities which endanger the most vulnerable

”, and above all,

reducing air pollution

– the main mission that the CCAC has set itself since its creation in 2012. “

Humanity is coming up against ecological limits, triggering multiple crises that threaten public health, food security, livelihoods and the ecosystems that support us

,” continues the CCAC by way of introduction to this meeting.

Reduce carbon emissions by 70% by 2030

But according to the latter, it is now possible, thanks to known techniques and existing technologies, to reduce methane emissions by 40% and carbon emissions by 70%, by 2030. The global commitment to

reducing methane
emissions

, taken in 2021, is therefore a major step forward, provided that it is developed on a large scale.

Only 4 days left until the Climate and Clean Air Conference 2024 in Nairobi!

Get ready to dive deep into discussions on climate and clean air action, economic opportunities, leveraging finance & more.

The agenda & background documents are now available: https://t.co/XG4avOjJKZ pic.twitter.com/oUhbz72daB

— Climate & Clean Air Coalition (@CCACoalition) February 17, 2024

This is the message that the coalition wants to send during this conference in Nairobi by recalling the much greater cost of inaction. While it estimated its needs at $150 million for the development of its programs, it is still missing two thirds of the budget. As

for air pollution,

it is of increasing concern in many countries, and to date, is still responsible for more than seven million deaths per year, according to the World Health Organization.

The coalition therefore planned, during these three days, to address the subject of financing and global efforts to be implemented, to organize technical sessions to “

present the best practices to follow in key emitting sectors

”, and to open dialogue to allow different States to develop political measures in line with scientific advice.

The case of Milan and its surroundings, asphyxiated by fine particles

Emergency measures in the Lombard capital and other towns on the Po plain in northern Italy have been taken to combat the increase in fine particles, made worse by the lack of rain and wind, reports our correspondent in Rome,

Anne Le Nir

The air has become unbreathable, particularly in Milan, where the regional environmental protection agency recorded levels of PM10 particles reaching 118 micrograms per cubic meter, 50 times higher than the threshold set by the WHO. The root causes are linked to climate change, intensive farming, the large number of vehicles on the road and obsolete boilers.

In order to curb the concentration of fine particles, the authorities have therefore taken emergency measures for nine provinces in the Po plain. In towns with more than 30,000 inhabitants, traffic restrictions are imposed every day between 7:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. for the most polluting vehicles. It is also prohibited to maintain temperatures above 19 degrees in homes and businesses. In addition, wearing a health mask is recommended for vulnerable people, and outdoor sport is not recommended. But to reduce atmospheric pollution in a sustainable manner, real political will is still needed, all climatologists emphasize.

Read alsoClimate: the European Commission wants to reduce CO2 emissions by 90% by 2040

Kenya: air pollution at the heart of a conference in Nairobi

Kenya: air pollution at the heart of a conference in Nairobi

Reduce carbon emissions by 70% by 2030

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