Air pollution is a mix of hazardous substances from both human-made and natural sources. Vehicle emissions, fuel oils and natural gas to heat homes, by-products of manufacturing and power generation, particularly coal-fueled power plants, and fumes from chemical production are the primary sources of human-made air pollution. Nature releases hazardous substances into the air, such as smoke from wildfires, which are often caused by people; ash and gases from volcanic eruptions; and gases, like methane, which are emitted from decomposing organic matter in soils.

In my country Sierra Leone, air pollution is a familiar environmental health hazard. We know what we’re looking at when brown haze settles over a city, exhaust flows across a busy highway, or a plume rises from a smokestack, and exhaust pipe billows from a nearby motor vehicle garage. Even though some air pollution is not seen, but its pungent smell alerts you. This issue may intrest you to know that indeed, air pollution is one of the biggest issues facing the planet today with no country spared. People, species, and our precious environments are all at risk. Our carbon pollution will have impacts all over the world - including here in Sierra Leone, one of the largest threats to this problem. Air pollution like climate change is bigger than politics; bigger than our tribes; bigger than our differences. It affects everyone’s health, but certain groups may be harmed more. It poses the greatest threat to the most vulnerable, particularly women and girls, who are often the ones contributing the least to its escalation but suffers the most.

Breathing dust from mine tailing, created by active and abandoned mining operations, affects lung function. Thus, air pollution reduction would be especially beneficial for children born in low-and middle-income countries. Hence, as Eco-Gen Ambassadors, we can help to address such health hazards in disadvantaged communities, such as rural people in iron ore mined communities of Sierra Leone, through culturally relevant health communication approach.

Moreover, even-though COP26 may be over, but the journey to climate progress has only just begun. We need to be sincere and committed in our effort to addressing environmental challenges. We know the solutions. Together, a 100% clean and renewable energy future is 100% possible. The transition is already underway. And definitely that will take us through to the United Nations 2030 Agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals.