Voices of Breathe Cities

Breathe Accra: Education for clean air

Accra is increasing access to air pollution data to educate residents.

Building on existing efforts and supported by Breathe Cities, the Mayor of Accra and local leaders across the 13 Districts of Greater Accra Metropolitan Area are scaling up efforts to empower residents to understand the air they breathe, so they can take steps to protect their health.

Breathe Accra has made real-time air pollution data freely available to everyone for the first time. This supports residents including essential workers, whose critical daily work often exposes them to dangerous levels of air pollution.

Breathe Rio: Transitioning to cleaner transport

Rio de Janeiro made a landmark commitment to transition 100% of the city’s public buses to low emission vehicles by 2028.

In partnership with Breathe Cities, Mayor Paes has developed plans to significantly scale its clean transport efforts, delivering cleaner air for the residents of Rio. 

Air pollution has a direct health impact, particularly for children whose lungs are still developing. By reducing exposure, the city is not only protecting children’s futures; it is easing the financial burden of high health costs associated with air pollution-related illnesses for working families.

Improving transport is equally crucial for daily quality of life in Rio. Affordable, connected, and reliable public transport supports the city’s essential workers and caregivers, giving them back time and money.

Breathe Jakarta: The next generation leading clean air action

Jakarta is committed to tackling air pollution to protect the city’s most vulnerable: children. 

Breathe Jakarta is supporting the Governor of Jakarta’s commitment to clean the city’s air and ensure lasting change for a healthier city. Air pollution has a direct health impact, particularly for children whose lungs are still developing. 

With guidance from local leaders, Jakarta’s teachers and students are tracking air pollution levels in children’s daily lives. This data is helping to drive lasting policy change, raise awareness among communities, and integrate findings into national public health guidance.

By involving children as junior scientists, we are supporting the next generation of clean air ambassadors.

Breathe London: Local action, global change for clean air

Breathe London puts air quality evidence in the hands of residents, providing community groups with air pollution sensors and making the data from them available to the public. This empowers Londoners to advocate for healthier, greener local areas. The data also helps leaders create policies and monitor their impact.

In 2024, London’s air quality levels met legal nitrogen dioxide (NO2) limits for the first time. Something experts had predicted would take 193 years, accomplished in just nine.

Thanks to the bold leadership of the Mayor Sadiq Khan, London has achieved historic reductions in pollution and inspired cities worldwide. Breathe London’s success is the blueprint for the global Breathe Cities initiative.

Breathe Sofia: Helping families move to cleaner heating

Sofia has made domestic heating cleaner for better air quality, banning coal and wood burning in nine districts. The ban will be city-wide by 2029.

Breathe Cities is supporting the Mayor of Sofia’s drive to help residents replace polluting heating systems with cleaner alternatives, which are better for the air and for energy costs. 

A team of local government, community groups, and researchers has already helped over 200 residents make the transition. They provide legal and financial advice, particularly to low-income families who rely on coal or wood for heating. By focusing on the specific needs of low-income families, we are not just reducing pollution, we are creating healthier homes and thriving communities.

Breathe Bangkok: Data driving inclusive clean air action

Bangkok has upgraded the city’s air quality monitoring systems, combining health data with information from 70 monitoring stations and low-cost sensors to raise awareness and protect public health.

Under the Governor’s leadership and with the support of Breathe Cities, the city is pioneering a new approach that puts community wellbeing at the centre of its clean air strategy.  

Breathe Bangkok is collaborating with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and community health networks to advance air monitoring across the city – providing tailored health recommendations for residents at higher risk, such as the elderly or those with chronic illnesses. This means the BMA and local health volunteers are better equipped to help residents, and ensure that families have the tools they need to make informed decisions, fostering healthier homes and thriving communities.

Breathe Mexico City: Supporting the shift to cleaner taxis

Mexico City is tackling air pollution by helping taxi drivers switch to electric vehicles, moving away from older, polluting vehicles.

Working with Breathe Cities, Mexico City’s Chief of Government is ensuring that the shift to a cleaner taxi fleet is both ambitious and inclusive. By prioritising the most heavily used vehicles in the city, the local government is tackling a major source of pollution while protecting the health and  livelihoods of the workers who are most exposed. 

Breathe Mexico City is supporting the Mexico City Secretariat of Mobility to scale the city’s support to taxi drivers, tackling air pollution and supporting key workers move into greener jobs.  Electric vehicles are cheaper for drivers to run and maintain, but switching vehicles can be expensive. The city’s grants help make the transition affordable and fair.