What we do
In each Breathe City, we provide support across four pillars to enable the successful implementation of ambitious new policies for urban air quality, improve public health and accelerate decarbonisation to create sustainable cities.
We expand data
We expand local air quality data through innovative new technologies and research into the causes of air pollution to provide local governments and communities with evidence for implementing new policies.
We raise awareness
We engage local communities and grassroots organisations to build public support for bold actions, targeting those most affected by air pollution.
We support policymaking
We provide technical assistance and capacity building to ambitious mayors and city governments to identify, develop and implement bold clean air solutions.
We connect cities
We share learnings across cities to scale best practices and inspire even more cities to act.
Our collaborative
approach
Breathe Cities provides philanthropic funding to support a range of local partners, including campaigners, community groups, academic institutes and NGOs, working in close collaboration with participating city governments. We support locally tailored solutions, through a proven model based on four pillars of action.
Our 4 pillars of action
Data and research
We expand the availability of local air quality data by deploying innovative monitoring technologies, assessing emissions sources and generating open source data.
Technical policy assistance
We provide direct support to local governments to support the successful development, implementation and enforcement of clean air policies by providing technical assistance and capacity building with policymakers.
Stakeholder and community engagement
We engage with local campaigners and grassroots organisations to identify community priorities, build public awareness and grow support for air quality action, especially for the communities most affected by air pollution.
Lesson sharing
We share insights and evidence of what works across cities to inspire and support even more cities to act.
How cities are chosen
The cities have been selected for their commitment to advancing ambitious policies that address the dual challenges of air pollution and climate emissions. The participating local governments were chosen based on criteria such as geographic diversity, air pollution and emissions intensity, engaged civil society, strong political interest and leadership, scalability potential, and capacity to implement action plans, among other metrics.
A 30% reduction in air pollution across
participating cities by 2030 would lead to
0
premature deaths
prevented
prevented
0
new cases of asthma in
children avoided
children avoided
$0
billion
in avoided hospitalizations
and deaths
and deaths
0
megatons
of CO2e emissions avoided