Air quality experts from across Africa and globally will convene in Nairobi this July for the third edition of the CLEAN-Air Forum to discuss the pressing issue of air pollution on the continent.
The Forum, held under the theme “Partnerships for Clean Air Solutions,” will run from 15th to 17th July, bringing together air quality communities of practice, including government leaders, researchers, civil society representatives, city planners, development partners, youth, and private sector actors.
Organised by AirQo, a pan-African air quality research initiative at Makerere University, the Health Effects Institute (HEI), and World Resources Institute Africa (WRI), in collaboration with Nairobi City County Government, the Forum builds on the success of previous editions held in Kampala (2023) and Lagos (2024).
“The CLEAN-Air Forum has become Africa’s leading platform for driving evidence, innovation, and equity in air quality,” said Wanjira Mathai, Managing Director for Africa and Global Partnerships at WRI. “The theme, Partnerships for Clean Air Solutions, is a timely reminder: no one city, country, or community can solve this crisis alone. We have to work together.”
According to a recent HEI Scoping Review titled “Health Effects of Air Pollution in East Africa”, air pollution led to approximately 294,000 deaths in 2021 across the region, making it the second-largest contributor to mortality, surpassed only by malnutrition. The review also shows that biomass fuel use and vehicle emissions are among the dominant sources of pollution, with limited air quality monitoring coverage across the region.
Despite Nairobi’s status as a continental environmental hub, the city still has fewer than 100 publicly accessible air quality monitors. These monitors are largely deployed through collaborative efforts involving AirQo, Breathe Cities, UNEP, and the GEOHealth Hub, among others, in partnership with the city government to help fill critical data gaps.
H.E. Johnson Sakaja, Governor, Nairobi City County, notes that the city has made great progress through expanding air quality monitoring, adding that the forum will unite leaders, experts, civil society, and citizens to share policies that protect our health and our city’s future.
“Air pollution remains a major public health and environmental threat, both locally and globally,” He notes. “The data we have must drive inclusive and informed action.”
Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, General Manager, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), will be one of the keynote speakers. “When we collaborate, we share expertise, benchmark standards, and speak with one voice,” said Dr. Ajayi. “The CLEAN-Air Forum is helping African cities build that shared language and vision.”
Dr. Mathew Ochieng Owili, Deputy Governor of Kisumu, one of Kenya’s fastest-growing cities, notes, “Through shared data, harmonised policies, and joint strategies, cities can access more funding and implement innovation faster. I hope this Forum catalyses a united front, bigger investments, stronger commitments, and new partnerships for clean air.”
This year’s forum will also launch a renewed vision for partnerships for the Africa Clean Air Network, with a shared commitment to connecting people, data, and practical solutions that support clean air efforts across the continent. After 3 years of advancing partner-led collaborations since the launch at the inaugural forum in Kampala,2023, the network has grown into a powerful force: “bridging science and policy, expanding Africa’s air quality data, raising awareness, and shaping bold new policies”
Over 300 participants are expected to attend, representing national and local governments, academic institutions, startups, funding organisations, development partners, and grassroots groups.
