health
Air pollution is a fixable problem – just look at how London and New York have cleaned up their acts
We’ve shown that rapid, measurable progress is achievable in our cities. Here’s how that can now be replicated worldwide
TL;DR
- Air pollution is a leading cause of death worldwide, contributing to more fatalities than HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis combined.
- London and New York have successfully reduced air pollution through data monitoring, citizen engagement, and policy interventions like ultra-low emission zones and zero-emission buses.
- The Breathe Cities program, launched by Bloomberg Philanthropies, Clean Air Fund, and C40 Cities, aims to replicate these successes in cities globally by providing data, technical support, and a network for sharing best practices.
- Early results from Breathe Cities show promising adoption in diverse urban environments, with some cities committing to clean air zones by 2030.
- Improving air quality is presented not only as a public health imperative but also as a crucial step in addressing the climate crisis and attracting economic investment.