Quezon City joins BreatheLife campaign, fulfils pledge to work for cleaner air:

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In fulfillment of its earlier commitment to deliver clean air to its almost three million citizens, Quezon City has joined the BreatheLife campaign, an endeavor that aims to reduce air pollution by 2030. 

“This move is part of our earlier pledge to provide healthy air to our residents,” said Mayor Joy Belmonte, referring to the Clean Air Cities Declaration that she signed during last year’s C40 World Mayors Summit in Copenhagen, Denmark.

“The action further underscores the city’s full dedication to reduce air pollution that would help lead to a healthier citizenry,” added Belmonte, the only mayor from the Philippines to join the summit. 

As the leader of the biggest city in the country in terms of population, Belmonte acknowledged the daunting task ahead, but she is confident to meet the required targets. Aside from Belmonte, 30 leaders of various cities around the world signed the declaration, which considers clean air as a human right. 

The signatories promised to work together to meet the WHO World Health Organization (WHO) Air Quality Guidelines by 2030 by using all powers at their disposal to address air pollution. 

The leaders also promised to call on those responsible behind the sources of air pollution to join their cause for a healthier environment. 

The declaration also requires signatories to establish baseline levels and set ambitious reduction targets for air pollutant that meet or exceed national commitments within two years.

Through its participation and membership to the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group as the only Philippine City member, Quezon City is able to implement various proactive action to improve its overall climate resilience. 

The city’s partnership with the “Clean Air for a Sustainable Future: A Transdisciplinary Approach to Mitigate Emissions of Black Carbon in Metro Manila, Philippines” (TAME-BC) project and the Air Quality Technical Assistance Programme from C40 Cities will help establish the roadmap for its air quality monitoring network and develop its Air Quality Management Plan.

The Quezon City Government will also undertake other actions such as promoting clean energy use and energy efficient strategies through the solarization of its city-owned and operated facilities.

It also plans to engage stakeholders in crafting the Air Quality Management Plan as part of its commitment to the Breathelife Campaign.

Follow Quezon City’s clean air journey towards 2030 here

Banner image by Gihan Dias/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0