Bloomberg Philanthropies has pledged $45 million (£33 million) to expand a global initiative helping cities tackle air pollution, following early successes that have already delivered measurable improvements in urban air quality.
The funding, announced during London Climate Action Week, will support the next phase of Breathe Cities, a programme delivered in partnership with Clean Air Fund and C40 Cities. The initiative helps local governments use air quality data to identify pollution hotspots, develop targeted policies and improve public health.
As part of the expansion, Addis Ababa and Madrid will join the network, bringing the total number of participating cities to 16 across five continents.
The investment builds on progress made since Breathe Cities launched in 2023. According to programme partners, participating cities have deployed nearly 1,200 air quality sensors, introduced 26 clean-air policies and achieved a 14% reduction in nitrogen dioxide pollution – a major contributor to respiratory and cardiovascular disease.
Michael Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and the UN Special Envoy on Climate Ambition and Solutions, said: ‘Through Breathe Cities, local leaders continue to lead the way in cleaning the air. Every step forward helps to save lives, improve public health, and reduce emissions – all while making cities better places to live and work. This new investment will build on the progress mayors are making – and help spread that progress to even more cities.’
Among the programme’s achievements, Paris has used local air quality data to support traffic restrictions and phase out highly polluting vehicles, while Jakarta has introduced a major bus electrification policy. More than 7,500 electric buses are now operating across the Breathe Cities network, including over 1,500 in Bogotá.
In London, data collected from more than 330 sensors has helped support measures including the Ultra Low Emission Zone and restrictions on traffic outside hundreds of schools. The city recently met legal nitrogen dioxide limits far earlier than previously forecast.
Air pollution remains one of the world’s leading environmental health risks, contributing to millions of deaths annually. Supporters of the programme argue that providing cities with better local data is critical to designing effective interventions and measuring their impact.
More than 60 cities have also engaged with the initiative through workshops and knowledge-sharing programmes aimed at accelerating clean-air action worldwide.
Mark Watts, Executive Director of C40 Cities, said: ‘Twenty years on from C40’s founding, the work we are doing with Bloomberg Philanthropies has never been more urgent or necessary. Together, we have helped cities build the infrastructure, the coalitions, and the political will to deliver cleaner air and healthier lives for millions of people. Breathe Cities is a clear example of what our partnership can achieve. Today’s investment is proof that local leadership, backed by the right global support, can drive change at a scale that matters.’
Among the member cities to offer comment was Jakarta, whose governor Pramono Anung Wibowo, said: ‘Jakarta is continuously taking bold action on clean air — electrifying our buses, limiting our most polluting vehicles, and building the evidence base for a Low Emission Zone. Breathe Cities has supported us with technical expertise and advisory support to strengthen these initiatives. I am pleased that Breathe Cities work will expand and am determined to deliver cleaner air for our residents.’
Photo of Jakarta by Afif Ramdhasuma
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