WRI Air Quality

The #CleanAirCatalyst program is a flagship initiative launched by the USAID that works with stakeholders and local communities to build locally tailored solutions to control air pollution.?Indore (India) is one of the pilot cities where the #CleanAirCatalyst program has been engaging with the local stakeholders in understanding source contributions, develop mitigation measures and advance solutions through a coalition of local partners who are invested in clean air for Indore.?One of the key components of the program was to build awareness through outreach and engaging with local communities at the grassroots level. The CAC program has trained several #ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers on air pollution and its impacts on human health. ?The #ASHA workers, in turn, spread awareness among their community members.?I was fortunate to be part of a recent discussion with the ASHA workers on 21st November 2024 at a Primary Health Centre in Indore.?It was a transformative experience listening to the personal stories narrated by the ASHA workers and how they were able to inculcate the message on air pollution among their low-income community members through patience, persistence, trust building, and determination. ?I was personally moved to hear the changes each one of them has made in their daily lives – from saving every bit of electricity to choosing to use a thick blanket in lieu of a heater or burning wood, to minimizing their 2-wheeler usage.?Their message conveys through action on how each individual can help contribute to the overall goal. Each story reinforced the fact that ASHA workers form the backbone of the community and play a critical role in championing the change at the grassroots level.?They are truly #airquality #champions. It left me wondering if a similar level of behavioral change would be possible among the middle-income and high-income households. WRI Air Quality, WRI India, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities, Environmental Defense Fund, Vital Strategies

We often focus on the physical consequences of air pollution—lung diseases, heart problems, and other tangible ailments. However, an equally significant yet underexplored aspect is its impact on mental health. In this op-ed, we discuss how prolonged exposure to polluted air can exacerbate stress, anxiety, depression, and even cognitive decline. It’s essential to acknowledge that air pollution is not just an environmental issue but also a pressing mental health concern.

Well that’s a wrap for me. Some of my #COP29 highlights ?? The argument for cities to be more integrated into the UNFCCC process has never been stronger and this year’s COP showed further promising signs that subnational governments are getting the recognition they deserve. The 3rd annual Ministerial on Urbanisation and Climate Change and Brazil’s NDC setting out their commitment to #climatefederalism were great demonstrations that national governments are increasingly seeing cities, states and regions as critical partners in tackling the climate crisis. ?? To unlock their full potential for climate action, however, we urgently need to bridge the urban finance gap. Despite generating over 70% of global GHG emissions, cities currently receive only 7-8% of climate funding. It was great seeing MDBs, Ministers and mayors all join the High-level Roundtable on Financing Urban Climate Action, which also reiterated the call made by mayors and urban leaders at #U20 for at least US$800 billion in annual public investment by 2030 from national governments and development finance institutions to scale up city-level climate action. ?? We launched two new reports: (1) on how national governments can strengthen their climate commitments through strategic collaboration with cities, states, and regions; and (2) draft guidance for cities, states and regions to set GHG emissions reduction targets that align with the ambition and principles of the #ParisAgreement: ? Stronger NDCs With Cities, States, and Regions: Recommendations for National Governments: https://lnkd.in/eAnF4-Yg.? ? Integrity Matters: GHG Target Guidance Setting for Cities, States and Regions > https://lnkd.in/dxnaszzR ???? #Baku, you were a great host city. Efficient and friendly with a beautiful old town, waterfront and metro system. A bit too car-friendly though for my liking and hoping the city's green transformation includes more space, and cleaner air, for walking and cycling ?? And finally, a few thoughts on the COP format. The hosting of COPs by petrostates, in my opinion, undermines the urgency of the mission whilst red carpet treatment for fossil fuel executives make a mockery of the COP Presidency's responsibilities. The escalating size of these annual gatherings should also be addressed. The number of delegates has increased drastically in recent years to 83,000 and 66,000 at COP28 and COP29 respectively. And whilst multilateralism, consensus building, and inclusion must underpin the global climate movement, surely there is a better way to drive this process forward than by flying 50,000+ delegates around the world, whilst host countries continue to bet on a fossil fuel-based economy.

Over one million people across Africa face the risk of premature death due to air pollution, with a majority exposed to both indoor and outdoor sources. Addressing this challenge requires precise, data-driven insights. In my recent work, I developed a detailed map highlighting PM2.5 emissions from household cooking fuels at the ward level across Kenya for the year 2019. This map offers a nuanced look at emissions generated per meal preparation in different regions. Household cooking fuels contribute a staggering 144,000 tonnes of PM2.5 annually in Kenya, with per-meal preparation emissions reaching 1.12 kg/year—20% higher than my calculations for India. This map not only identifies pollution hotspots but underscores the urgent need for targeted solutions to mitigate indoor air pollution and improve public health. Through data like this, we can better understand and address the challenges communities face daily, moving closer to a cleaner, healthier future.

Looking for a chance to flex your advocacy skills and make a real difference? ???? Join us as a?GESI Analyst?with?Clean Air Catalyst?and help tackle air pollution while centring on social inclusion. ? What’s in it for you? ?? Amplify voices that deserve to be heard ?? Turn research into action (no yap, just impact) ?? Work with a cross-workstream team that?(actually)?cares If this sounds like your core, hit the link and let’s chat. ??

We're calling for immediate global action to address tropospheric ozone - a super pollutant with devastating effects on the #Climate, public health and agriculture ?? Clean Air Fund's Tom Grylls and Jane Burston feature in Forbes' coverage of our new policy brief: The Case for Action on Tropospheric Ozone ?? #COP29 Clean Air Institute, Clean Air Task Force, Hill Consulting https://bit.ly/3Z4HZp1

#TheUrbanQ | Catch the latest episodes ?? ? Tune in to our podcast with?Jaya Dhindaw (Executive Program Director, Sustainable Cities & Director, WRI India Ross Center), as we?engage with experts, thought leaders, and a host of different city-dwellers to explore the collective actions needed to shape healthier, productive and more sustainable cities. Subscribe to our channels!? ??YouTube: bit.ly/TheUrbanQYT????? ??Spotify: bit.ly/TheUrbanQSP??? ?? Ep 10 - Lora Prabhu (Director & Co-founder, CEQUIN - CENTRE FOR EQUITY AND INCLUSION - Centre for Equity & Inclusion, and Convener, National Alliance for Women’s Football, India) spotlights sport as a medium to mobilize communities to accept and celebrate women's participation in the public realm. ?? Listen now: bit.ly/4e9L77k ?? Ep 9 - Dr. H. Sudarshan Ballal (Chairman, Manipal Hospitals (MHEPL) Group),?embracing the maxim that prevention is better than cure, discusses why it's critical for citizens to be proactive versus reactive in ensuring healthier, regenerative cities for all.? ??Watch here: bit.ly/4estBMo? ? ?? Ep? 8 - Dr. Jessica Seddon (Director, The Deitz Family Initiative on Environment and Global Affairs at Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs; Co-founder, The Institutional Architecture Lab) on how applying an institutional design lens and humanizing data could help us fulfill our urban priorities. ??Watch here: bit.ly/4cQgBPq? ? ?? Ep 7 - Alain Bertaud (Senior Fellow, NYU Marron Institute of Urban Management), on why we should align urban planning with economic reasoning to enable people-centric city infrastructure. ??Tune in to Spotify: bit.ly/3LBDNFO??? ? Stay tuned for Episode 11 of The Urban Q – dropping at the end of this month! #TheUrbanQ I Follow the hashtag for updates? ? #CitiesForAll #UrbanResilience #SustainableCities #EqualCities #AffordableHousing #UrbanTransformation #InstitutionalDesign #SocialGeography #HumanizingData #HealthyCities #PublicHealth #GenderEquity #InclusiveCities #SafeCities #PublicSpaces

3 years in the making, and it's finally out: our WHO guidelines for integrating health in national climate plans! Over the next 12 months, countries are expected to submit updated national climate plans, outlining their emission reduction targets for the next decade. These are known as Nationally Determined Contributions to the Paris Agreement, or NDCs. Most countries already include health targets and priorities in their climate plans. However, these are often quite superficial, lack detail, and are not connected to detailed investment plans. This new WHO guidance provides a range of recommendations for how countries can strengthen their climate plans while also protecting and promoting health and wellbeing. Recommendations range from developing air pollution reduction targets, to quantifying the health co-benefits from emissions reductions in various sectors, to including detailed health adaptation priorities, to including detailed investment and implementation plans. NDCs are one of the main tools countries have to drive their individual efforts to confront the global climate crisis. It's therefore crucial that these national climate commitments promote and protect our health in the face of climate change. I would welcome any thoughts or feedback on the guidance! Especially how some of these recommendations might relate to your own country's climate plans. You can read the WHO guidance on NDCs here: https://lnkd.in/ggqUQXNy

?? On next week's World Pneumonia Day (Tuesday 12 Nov) don’t miss a special webinar event on climate change, air pollution and respiratory health. Join us and register here: ? https://lnkd.in/dAGBC22z #BreatheLife #EveryBreathCounts #AirQuality #AirPollution #HealthForAll #UHC #WorldPneumoniaDay Rebecca Nantanda Laura-Jane Smith John Sampson

?? Exciting times for AirQo and WRI Africa! We were honored to host Matt Brittin, President of Google's EMEA Business & Operations, and Alex Okosi, Google Africa MD, at our Nairobi Firestation air quality monitoring site. Thanks to Google’s generous funding, we’ve been able to construct and install advanced air quality monitoring systems that leverage AI to collect data and identify patterns. This technology not only enhances air quality analysis but also provides an accessible map of current air conditions in Nairobi and enables accurate predictions. Our discussions, led by Rebekah Shirley, Ph.D., George Mwaniki (Ph.D.) and Engineer Bainomugisha, focused on how real-time data empowers communities, governments, and stakeholders to take informed action towards sustainable solutions for air quality improvement. This collaboration highlights our shared commitment to a cleaner, healthier future for Africa. Together, we are making strides toward better air quality for all! Learn more about our work: https://lnkd.in/gsNfZ9CY #AirQuality #Sustainability #CleanAir