VIDEO: Let us work together to END air pollution

On Wednesday, June 5, Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba commemorated World Environment Day (WED) alongside the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) at the Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo.

The mayor was joined by MMC for Community Development Nonhlanhla Sifumba, MMC for Corporate and Shared Services Ntombi Valencia Khumalo and MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services Nico de Jager.

The theme and focus for this year is #BeatAirPollution and is a call for immediate action and to find solutions to the unacceptably high levels of air pollution within the City.

WED is the United Nations’s main vehicle for encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the environment and is celebrated in more than 100 countries – including South Africa. Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo together with 15 other exhibitors showcased environmental education programmes as well as presented innovative projects set in place to foster a cleaner and a more environmentally friendly City.

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Approximately 120 Grade Six learners from different schools in the City were invited to take part in various educational programmes. The celebrations at the Zoo started as early as 9 am with a clean-up operation. Guests arrived at the Zoo at 12 pm with the dignitaries arriving at 1 pm.

MMC Khumalo welcomed guests and encouraged everyone to start looking after the environment. Cecilia Njenga, who is the head of UNEP, addressed guests and gave a background as to why caring for the environment is everyone’s responsibility.

Mayor Mashaba delivered the keynote address: “The quality of the air we breathe into our lungs is decreasing drastically and that is why we need to take air pollution so seriously, it affects all of us. The World Health Organisation reports that an estimated seven million people around the world die prematurely every year as a result of air pollution, so it is up to us to change that,” said Mashaba.