The Clean Air Fund initiative aims to tackle global air pollution. It works with governments, funders, businesses, and campaigners. Photo illustration AI
The bustling streets of Nairobi, like those of many rapidly urbanizing East African cities, tell a complex story.
They hum with economic activity, yet also carry a heavy burden: air pollution.
This invisible threat, often dismissed or underestimated, directly impacts the health, livelihoods, and daily lives of millions of citizens.
However, a significant global player, the Clean Air Fund, is making tangible strides in addressing this crisis, particularly in urban centers like Nairobi, Kampala, and Addis Ababa.
Its impact stretches from cutting-edge data collection to fostering community engagement, offering a breath of fresh air to residents.
The Silent Killer: Air Pollution’s Daily Toll
Air pollution is a silent killer. It leads to premature deaths and widespread illness. In Nairobi, air pollution contributed to approximately 2,500 premature deaths in 2019.
This represented roughly 15% of the total deaths that year. The financial cost is also staggering, accrued through premature mortality and absenteeism.
Projections show these impacts worsening under a business-as-usual scenario.
The burden of dirty air is not distributed equally. Densely populated informal settlements, often located near major roads and industrial facilities, bear the brunt of pollution.
Residents here, typically on the lowest incomes, face disproportionate health risks.
These communities breathe in harmful pollutants daily, affecting their children, their productivity, and their overall well-being.
A Global Commitment, Local Impact: The Clean Air Fund’s Mission
The Clean Air Fund is a philanthropic initiative. Its mission is to tackle global air pollution. It works with governments, funders, businesses, and campaigners.
The goal is to deliver clean air for all, as quickly as possible.
The organization recognizes that the causes of air pollution, such as transport, power generation, and industrial emissions, are often the same as those driving climate change.
Addressing air pollution, therefore, offers dual benefits: improved public health and climate mitigation.
The Clean Air Fund supports a range of interventions.
These include air quality monitoring, assessing health and economic impacts, supporting ambitious policymakers and campaigners, and engaging both the public and private sectors.
Their main criterion for support is the potential for demonstrable, scalable impact.
Nairobi Leads the Charge: The Breathe Cities Initiative
Nairobi is emerging as a regional leader in the fight for clean air. The city has made considerable progress. This includes creating strong partnerships with private and international actors.
It has invested in air quality data collection and management. Air pollution action has been enshrined into law.
A key initiative is “Breathe Nairobi.” This program is part of the larger global Breathe Cities movement.
The Clean Air Fund, C40 Cities, and Bloomberg Philanthropies spearhead this global effort.
Breathe Cities aims to reduce air pollution and carbon emissions by 30% by 2030.
Nairobi’s Governor has emphasized the urgency, stating that air quality is “a matter of life and death.”
The Breathe Nairobi initiative is structured around three core pillars: data and research, stakeholder and community engagement, and technical policy assistance.
It is designed to provide the necessary resources to implement real, lasting changes. The goal is to ensure all residents can breathe cleaner air.
Data as the Foundation: Real-Time Monitoring and Informed Decisions
One of the most critical aspects of the Clean Air Fund’s work in Nairobi is its focus on data. Reliable air quality data is essential for effective policymaking.
It helps identify pollution sources. It allows for targeted interventions.
The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), with Clean Air Fund support, is assisting the Nairobi City County Government.
This includes supporting the Department of Environment, Water and Sanitation. Their work focuses on monitoring and managing air quality in real-time.
This is achieved using low-cost sensors. The data is integrated into climate adaptation planning and urban resilience strategies.
This aligns with Kenya’s National Climate Change Action Plan and the Nairobi Air Quality Agreement.
The Nairobi City County Government, through its Climate Change Department, also spearheads data collection and analysis.
Collaborations with organizations like AirQo, GEOHealth Hub, Clean Air Fund, and the World Resources Institute are crucial. These partnerships leverage technological innovation and research.
They monitor air quality and identify pollution sources in real-time.
A significant project involves developing a city-owned Air Quality Information Management System. This includes a publicly accessible Air Quality Data Portal.
This system collects and analyzes real-time data from a network of low-cost sensors. This data is then accessible to residents.
This transparency empowers citizens with information about the air they breathe.
To ensure data accuracy, Clean Air Catalyst and the World Resource Institute partner with Nairobi County.
They are installing two reference monitors within the city. One is at the city’s fire station office. The second is at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital.
This infrastructure helps build a robust evidence base.
Empowering Citizens: Community Engagement and Awareness
The Clean Air Fund recognizes that technical solutions alone are not enough. Public support and understanding are crucial for successful policy implementation.
In Nairobi, citizen-engaged air quality campaigns are being established. These campaigns aim to drive behavioral change and urban planning responses.
The Breathe Nairobi initiative also includes a robust public awareness campaign. This educates residents about air quality issues.
It highlights the health impacts of pollution. It promotes cleaner alternatives. This empowers communities to advocate for change and participate in solutions.
For example, the partnership between the Clean Air Fund and educational institutions focuses on enhancing air quality monitoring within schools.
This protects vulnerable populations, especially children. It also emphasizes creating environmental awareness among students. This enables evidence-based interventions in high-risk areas.
Policy and Practice: Driving Systemic Change
Beyond data and awareness, the Clean Air Fund supports policy reforms. Nairobi has already taken several significant steps.
The Nairobi City County Air Quality Bill (2021) has been enacted. A Climate Action Plan (CAP) is in place. The city has partnered with the World Resource Institute (WRI) for an emissions inventory.
The city is committed to reducing emissions by 51% by 2035. This involves multifaceted approaches.
These include urban greening, sustainable municipal solid waste management, and the adoption of clean transport alternatives. Green energy solutions are also part of this broader goal.
Specific projects under Breathe Nairobi, spanning from September 2024 to August 2026, target key pollution sources.
The county plans to transition to electric buses and e-motorcycles. They are actively collaborating with partners to promote sustainable and low-emission transport. This is key to reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Additionally, the county plans to encourage non-motorized transport. This involves developing pedestrian-friendly streets and dedicated cycling lanes.
Public campaigns will promote eco-friendly driving practices and sustainable mobility options. These initiatives directly touch the daily lives of citizens by creating healthier, more livable urban spaces.
The Broader East African Context: Collaboration and Future Prospects
While Nairobi leads, the Clean Air Fund’s impact extends across East Africa. Air pollution and climate change are interlinked global crises.
They disproportionately affect Africa. They threaten lives, livelihoods, and sustainable development.
The UNEP, with support from the China Trust Fund, proposes a multi-country initiative.
This focuses on enhancing urban climate resilience, air quality management, and public health. Nairobi, Kampala, and Addis Ababa are key cities in this initiative.
These cities are at the forefront of Africa’s urbanization. They are particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts and deteriorating air quality.
This project emphasizes a multisectoral approach for sustainable and transformative solutions.
International development funding for air quality in Africa remains disproportionately low. Only 3.7% of total air quality funding globally went to Africa between 2015 and 2021.
This is despite 26% of global outdoor air pollution deaths occurring on the continent.
The Clean Air Fund highlights this funding gap. It advocates for increased investment in clean air projects across the region.
The cumulative impact of identified clean air interventions in Nairobi is substantial. Between 2023 and 2040, these interventions could save Nairobi approximately $192 million.
This equates to 23% of the Kenyan government’s total health expenditure in 2022. A further 2,100 deaths could be reduced. Greenhouse gas emissions could be abated by 49 Mt of CO2e.
This is equivalent to about 38% of Kenya’s current GHG emissions.
The work of the Clean Air Fund, in collaboration with local governments and partners, is vital. It is changing the narrative around air pollution in East Africa.
It is transforming it from an invisible problem into a solvable challenge.
By investing in data, policy, and community engagement, the Clean Air Fund is not just cleaning the air; it is fostering healthier, more resilient cities for generations to come.
The effort directly improves the quality of life for millions of citizens, one cleaner breath at a time.
