clean Air Forum. Photo illustration by AI
From July 15 to 17, 2025, the Clean Air Forum 2025 will convene in Nairobi to strengthen Africa’s growing movement toward tackling air pollution through science, partnerships, and policy action.
Scheduled to be hosted at the Safari Park Hotel in a hybrid format, the forum will bring together a diverse community of stakeholders under the theme “Partnerships for Clean Air Solutions.”
The forum is organized by AirQo, in collaboration with the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), Kenya’s National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), and other international and regional partners.
The forum builds on momentum from previous editions held in Kampala (2022) and Lagos (2024).
Why This Forum Matters
Air pollution remains one of Africa’s most pressing but often overlooked public health and environmental challenges. According to data from AirQo, air pollution causes over 1 million premature deaths annually in Africa.
Urban centers, in particular, face rising exposure to harmful pollutants from transport, industry, waste, and biomass burning.
The Clean Air Forum serves as a crucial space for:
- Sharing locally generated data and innovations
- Building policy and regulatory frameworks
- Connecting cities, researchers, and funders to accelerate impact
- Mainstreaming air quality into urban and national development plans
Key Focus Areas in 2025
The Nairobi forum will feature:
- Plenary sessions on urban governance, public health, and financing
- Technical workshops on data systems, air quality modeling, and citizen science
- Poster and exhibition sessions for research, tools, and field interventions
- Networking forums to link local governments, researchers, civil society, and development partners
Priority themes include:
- Community-led air quality monitoring and data democratization
- Gender and clean air equity
- Sustainable transport and emissions control
- Air quality and health impact tracking
- Policy integration and funding mechanisms
Building on Lagos 2024
The Clean Air Forum Lagos 2024, held in July last year, brought together over 350 delegates from 40+ countries.
Hosted by LASEPA in partnership with AirQo and CCAC, the forum spotlighted key challenges and breakthroughs in managing urban air pollution.
From Lagos, the following lessons continue to shape the 2025 agenda:
- Low-cost monitoring tools are enabling African cities to fill data gaps.
- Multi-city collaboration improves regional air quality strategies.
- Community engagement is essential to drive lasting behavioral and policy change.
- Cross-sector partnerships – involving health, transport, and planning authorities – yield more sustainable interventions.
Who Should Attend
The Clean Air Forum is open to a wide range of stakeholders working on or affected by air quality issues in Africa:
- Local and national government officials involved in the environment, transport, planning, or health
- Researchers and academic institutions working on air pollution, public health, or urban systems
- Civil society organizations and community leaders advocating for environmental justice and health equity
- Tech innovators and startups developing air quality sensors, platforms, or mitigation solutions
- Development partners, donors, and funders interested in supporting clean air action
- Students and early-career professionals in environmental science, public policy, or engineering
How to Apply or Participate
Registration Deadline: July 13, 2025
To register:
- Visit the official event portal: https://event.fourwaves.com/cleanairforum-nairobi-2025/registration
- Select your participation category: Attendee, Poster Presenter, or Exhibitor
- Registration is free for virtual participation. In-person attendance requires confirmation and may be limited depending on capacity.
About the Organizing Partners
AirQo (Makerere University, Uganda)
A pioneer in air quality data generation using low-cost sensors and AI. AirQo operates across multiple African countries and is the founding organizer of the Clean Air Forum.
Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC)
A UNEP-hosted global partnership working to reduce short-lived climate pollutants. CCAC supports countries with policy tools, capacity building, and technical assistance.
National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) – Kenya
NEMA is Kenya’s lead environmental regulatory agency, coordinating environmental planning, enforcement, and monitoring, including emerging air quality efforts at the national and county levels.
World Resources Institute (WRI) Africa
A technical and policy think tank advancing data-driven solutions in sustainable urban development, clean transport, and environmental governance across Africa.
Ricardo Energy & Environment
An international consultancy providing scientific and policy support on emissions inventories, modeling, and air pollution regulation for governments and development agencies.
