IN a groundbreaking announcement at the COP28 Local Climate Action Summit, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Clean Air Fund, and C40 Cities have revealed a significant expansion of the Breathe Cities clean air initiative, introducing a new cohort of cities in Africa. This initiative aims to address the pressing issues of air pollution, carbon emissions, and public health by providing comprehensive support, including funding, technical assistance, air quality data, community engagement, capacity building, and additional resources.
The latest additions to the Breathe Cities initiative are Accra, Ghana; Johannesburg, South Africa; and Nairobi, Kenya. These cities will benefit from a dedicated $30 million initiative focused on improving air quality data, enhancing community engagement, building capacity, and implementing various measures to combat air pollution. The overarching goal is to achieve a 30 percent reduction in air pollution across participating cities by 2030 compared to 2019 levels.
The Breathe Cities initiative employs an evidence-based strategy that integrates data, policy initiatives, and community engagement. The ambitious target of reducing air pollution is projected to prevent an estimated 39,000 premature deaths and approximately 79,000 new cases of asthma in children each decade. This would result in substantial economic savings of $107bn by avoiding hospitalisations and deaths. Additionally, a remarkable reduction of 284 Megatonnes of CO2e emissions is expected among participating cities by 2030.
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London and co-chair of C40 Cities, emphasised the dual threat of toxic air pollution to public health and the climate crisis. He highlighted the power of collaboration in accelerating progress, expressing confidence that the partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies and Clean Air Fund will empower cities to implement effective policies and deliver cleaner, healthier air to residents.
‘Toxic air pollution is a dual threat, impacting both the public health of our cities as well as furthering the climate crisis,’ said Sadiq Khan. He added: ‘As co-chair of C40 Cities, I’ve seen how collaboration can accelerate progress on the challenges we face. By partnering with Bloomberg Philanthropies and Clean Air Fund, we will be able to provide cities with the data and capacity they need to push for stronger and more effective policies that reduce air pollution and deliver cleaner, healthier air to their residents.’
Michael R. Bloomberg, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Climate Ambition and Solutions, and founder of Bloomberg L.P. and Bloomberg Philanthropies, underscored the importance of leveraging technology, data, and policy to lead the way in cleaning the air. He expressed the commitment of Bloomberg Philanthropies to work closely with the newly announced cities to implement ambitious solutions for the betterment of lives.
‘One of the most effective ways to tackle climate change and protect public health is through reducing air pollution,’ said Bloomberg. ‘With the right technology, data and policy, cities can lead the way in cleaning the air. Bloomberg Philanthropies is looking forward to working with these cities to help them implement ambitious solutions that will help improve and save lives.’
Jane Burston, CEO of Clean Air Fund, highlighted the direct impact of empowering cities to tackle air pollution on public health and wellbeing. She emphasised the broader economic and environmental benefits that will result from this empowerment. ‘Empowering cities to tackle air pollution will have a direct impact on public health and wellbeing and unlock a host of wider economic and environmental benefits,’ Burston stressed.
The participating cities will engage in a pioneering partnership to exchange knowledge and scale local impact. Selected based on criteria such as geographic diversity, air pollution intensity, engaged civil society, political interest, scalability potential, and capacity to implement action plans, these cities are committed to addressing the dual challenges of air pollution and climate emissions.
Air pollution remains a critical global issue, with almost no urban area meeting the World Health Organisation guidelines for air quality. A staggering 41 percent of cities have air pollution levels over seven times higher than the WHO’s recommendation, contributing to 7 million premature deaths annually and a range of health issues such as asthma and respiratory illnesses. The Breathe Cities initiative stands as a crucial step toward a healthier and sustainable future for urban communities worldwide.