Mashaba encourages children to #BeatAirPollution on #WorldEnvironmentDay
SAXONWOLD – Over 120 learners from various schools learned about the harmfulness of air pollution at the Johannesburg Zoo on World Environment Day.
More than 120 children from schools across Johannesburg learned more about the harmful effects of air pollution at the Johannesburg Zoo on World Environment Day on 5 June.
Executive Mayor Herman Mashaba, MMC for Community Development Nonhlanhla Sifumba, head of the United Nations Environmental Programme Cecilia Njenga, and a number of other speakers addressed learners about how to preserve the planet’s resources for future generations.
Learners browsed a number of educational stands by exhibitors including Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo and a number of other stakeholders, learning how to foster a cleaner, more environmentally friendly city.
Njenga said air pollution was killing seven million people across the world each year through asthma and a number of other respiratory infections. She also informed learners about pollutants contributing to this problem including the burning of fossil fuels, vehicle emissions, mining industries, the burning of waste and illegal dumping.
Grade 4 learner Nikita Khosa addressed Mashaba requesting that he keep public parks and streets clean for children to play in.
The day marked the third anniversary of the launch of Mashaba’s A Re Sebetseng campaign, which invites community members to play their part in cleaning up litter in their communities in conjunction with the City on a monthly basis.
Mashaba said air pollution was most severe in urban areas such as Johannesburg, where people have migrated to find work. He highlighted the City’s strategies to reduce pollution. Some of these strategies included the presence of eight air quality monitoring stations across the city, the expansion of public transport to reduce vehicle emissions, electrifying informal settlements, the planting of trees and encouragement of residents to make use of renewable energy resources.
“Access to clean air is a right… The fight against air pollution is everyone’s responsibility,” said Mashaba, adding that he was inspired to see the participation of youth on the day.
Sifumba said, “Cleanliness is everyone’s responsibility and it starts with each of us remembering that there are no boundaries when it comes to the environment. Disposing domestic waste in the park outside your home is polluting your community and has a direct bearing on the health of your loved ones living in your household.”
She added that with the carrying capacity of Johannesburg increasing on a daily basis, it was vital that every citizen played their part to protect the integrity of public and private spaces.
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