Blog 6 September 2024
What do we mean by clean air action? And what does impact look like for the air quality movement? At Clean Air Fund, we know that we can only deliver clean air for all by catalysing policy change, building public demand and generating evidence to inform action.
This year’s UN International Day of Clean Air for blue skies calls for more investment to tackle air pollution. Through our grants, Clean Air Fund supports diverse organisations and inspiring people across the globe. Below, these clean air heroes tell us how they created impactful change in their countries.
Watch the videos to hear their personal experiences with air pollution and how they are making a difference in the fight for clean air.
Cutting air pollution levels in a Polish city
The City of Rybnik reduced its smog days from 130 to 12 days a year. The combined efforts of our grantees Polish Smog Alert and Forum Energii with the local authorities turned the “smog capital of Poland” into a pioneer for clean air in Poland and beyond. Emil Nagalewski and Anita Cieślicka tell their story:
Highlighting air quality in Ghana’s media
Investigative reporting is crucial to raising public awareness and pushing policymakers to take action on clean air. Through the Clean Air Fund-supported New Narratives programme, journalist Albert Oppong-Ansah produced people-centred and factual stories on air quality in Ghana.
A grassroots movement for clean air in the UK
Mums for Lungs, a Clean Air Fund grantee, is a parent-led campaign group fighting for children’s rights to breathe clean air. These community leaders have raised public awareness of air pollution and influenced policy change to improve air quality in the UK. Founder Jemima Hartshorn tells her story:
Using data to advocate for action in Mongolia
Breathe Mongolia – Clean Air Coalition empowers communities and makes the case for air quality action in Mongolia. As an OpenAQ Community Ambassador (a programme supported by the Clean Air Fund), founder Aza Tsogtsaikhan uses open air quality data as the foundation of Breathe Mongolia’s advocacy and public engagement. Aza and Enkhuun Byambadorj tell their story:
