World Environment Day is celebrated each year to mark the Stockholm Conference on Human Environment of the United Nations in 1972. It was the first ever international conference that focused on the environment. The United Nations announces the theme of the conference each year and the theme for 2019 was Air Pollution.

On this occasion Sustainability Initiatives decided to have a panel discussion to understand the air pollution in Pune specifically and other cities in India and discuss various measures that are being taken and that should be taken to address the rising air pollution in Indian cities. The panel discussion was organized on 6th of June 2019 at the office of Sustainability Initiatives. The invited panelists were Dr. Gufran Beig, senior scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune; Dr. Sundeep Salvi, Director, Chest Research Foundation, Pune and Mr. Mangesh Dighe, Environment Officer, Pune Municipal Corporation.

Dr. Beig explained the need and importance for monitoring and inventorying air pollution and how that can give meaningful insignts that can help formulate policies. Dr. Salvi explained how air pollution affects the human body and also how there is a need for a change in attitude of people towards air pollution in order to stimulate people to take action. Mr. Dighe presented the current scenario of air pollution in Pune and how Pune Municipal Corporation has been at the forefront of research and action on urban air pollution in India as compared to other cities.