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London, United Kingdom – Today, Breathe Cities announced Cecilia Vaca Jones as its new Executive Director, where she will lead the global initiative from Bloomberg Philanthropies, Clean Air Fund and C40 Cities supporting cities to clean our air and enhance public health. As Executive Director, Vaca Jones will oversee the initiative’s strategic direction across its 14 cities, working closely with city leaders, community groups, and technical experts to expand access to air quality data and build healthier cities.
Vaca Jones brings extensive leadership experience in environmental policy and urban sustainability. She has led impactful work across government, civil society, international institutions, academia and philanthropy, including as Ecuador’s Coordinating Minister of Social Development. Currently, she serves on the Boards of the Mayors’ Migration Council and LSE Cities’ Advisory Committee. As Breathe Cities’ Executive Director, she will use her expertise to enable its goal to cut toxic air pollution 30% by 2030, creating healthier cities where residents can thrive.
Every person has the right to breathe clean air, and cities around the world are showing that air pollution is not inevitable. I’ve seen what’s possible when political will is matched with strong data, technical expertise and community leadership. Breathe Cities is a powerful platform for scaling proven solutions and ensuring cities have the partnerships and resources they need to act. I’m honoured to lead this initiative and help accelerate action for healthier cities where everyone can breathe freely and thrive.
Cecilia Vaca Jones
Executive Director of Breathe Cities
Breathe Cities was launched in 2023 by Michael R. Bloomberg, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Climate Ambition and Solutions and founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and Bloomberg L.P., and Sadiq Khan, London Mayor and C40 Cities Co-Chair, to tackle air pollution on a global scale. It builds on more than a decade of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ air quality leadership — from pioneering city monitoring networks to supporting data-driven clean air policies — now scaled through a global platform reaching cities worldwide.
From Accra to Bogotá, Warsaw to Bangkok, Breathe Cities unites communities, city leaders, and technical experts to implement innovative solutions, strengthening local capacity and building momentum for change. To date, the initiative has helped deliver rapid results in cities around the world through expanding access to data, raising public awareness, bolstering technical expertise, empowering local communities, and connecting cities to share, adapt and replicate solutions. Over 1,100 air quality sensors have been deployed in Breathe Cities, and more than 47 million people have been reached through air pollution awareness-raising efforts delivered in partnership with local communities.
“Right from the start, Breathe Cities has demonstrated the ambition and power of cities to improve air quality and confront one of the greatest public health challenges of our time. With Cecilia’s appointment, we are ready to move from set-up to scale,” said Jane Burston, CEO of Clean Air Fund. “With over two decades of experience in social development policies and programmes, combined with her ability to navigate complex political landscapes and deliver tangible results, Breathe Cities is in excellent hands with Cecilia. The programme will benefit enormously from her strategic thinking, deep relationships across Latin America and beyond, and unwavering commitment to environmental justice and public health.”
“Access to clean air is a fundamental right,” said Antha Williams, who leads the Bloomberg Philanthropies Environment Program. “With a background in government and social development, Cecilia brings an invaluable perspective and a deep understanding of what it takes to deliver impact for communities. We’re grateful for her leadership as we continue supporting mayors and local partners to scale the bold, data-driven solutions needed to protect residents’ health and wellbeing.”
“Air pollution is a global crisis, but mayors are proving that local leadership and strong partnerships can drive worldwide change,” said Mark Watts, Executive Director at C40 Cities. “With her extensive experience in environmental policy, Cecilia understands both the urgency of this challenge and the realities of implementing solutions at scale across geographies. We look forward to working with her to amplify the strengths of the Breathe Cities initiative, which is delivering cleaner, healthier air for communities across the globe.”
Since its launch, Breathe Cities has expanded to support work in Accra, Ghana; Bangkok, Thailand; Brussels, Belgium; Jakarta, Indonesia; Johannesburg, South Africa; London, United Kingdom; Milan, Italy; Nairobi, Kenya; Paris, France; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Sofia, Bulgaria and Warsaw, Poland. Recent additions to the initiative include Mexico City and Bogotá, which was recently awarded the Earthshot Prize for its work on air pollution. The coalition provides participating cities with enhanced access to air quality monitoring technology, technical expertise, and resources to develop comprehensive clean air strategies.
Vaca Jones assumes the role following Jaime Pumarejo, who helped establish the initiative’s foundational partnerships and expand its global reach.
