Nairobi is set to take a monumental step in its battle against air pollution with the launch of the Breathe Cities Nairobi initiative on September 11, 2024. This initiative marks a significant commitment by the city to address one of its most pressing environmental challenges: poor air quality. The Breathe Cities program, a pioneering initiative from the Clean Air Fund, C40 Cities, and Bloomberg Philanthropies, aims to clean the air, cut carbon emissions, and enhance public health in cities around the world.
The initiative was launched in June 2023 by Michael R. Bloomberg, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Climate Ambition and Solutions and founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies, alongside London Mayor and C40 Cities Co-Chair Sadiq Khan. The goal of the initiative is ambitious: to reduce air pollution and planet-warming emissions by 30% across participating cities by 2030. Nairobi joins this effort as part of a US $30 million investment that includes 10 other global cities, ranging from Jakarta to Rio de Janeiro, all working towards the shared objective of improving air quality.
Nairobi’s decision to join the Breathe Cities initiative is driven by the stark realities of air pollution’s impact on its residents. According to the State of the Global Air 2020 report, over 5,000 premature deaths in Kenya are attributed to air pollution. This public health crisis has persisted despite Nairobi’s status as a global environmental hub, making the need for intervention urgent and necessary.
Governor Johnson Sakaja underscored the urgency of the initiative during the announcement, stating, “I am humbled that Nairobi will not only launch this initiative, but will also play host to a function that will convene key stakeholders, including government officials, civil society organizations, private sector representatives, and development partners from across the region. This initiative represents Nairobi’s continued commitment to cleaning its air. Nairobi’s air quality is a matter of life and death. The Breathe Cities Nairobi initiative will provide the much-needed resources to implement real, lasting changes, and ensure that all residents can breathe cleaner air.”
The Breathe Cities Nairobi initiative will focus on three core pillars: data and research, stakeholder and community engagement, and technical policy assistance. These pillars will be supported by efforts to strengthen Nairobi’s capacity to monitor and manage air quality, coupled with a robust public awareness campaign and regulatory reforms. Dr. Victor Indasi, the Breathe Cities Lead for Kenya, expressed optimism about the initiative, calling it a “game changer” for the city. “With Breathe Cities, we are committed to collaborating with partners and stakeholders to restore the true meaning of Hakuna Matata – a life free from the burdens of air pollution, where every breath takes in air that is cleaner and healthier,” said Dr. Indasi.
Nairobi has already made notable progress in its quest to improve air quality, including the enactment of the Nairobi Air Quality Act in 2022, which introduced real-time air quality monitoring on the county website and the completion of an air quality source awareness assessment. The county is also finalizing its climate change legal framework, updating its Greenhouse Gas Inventory, and has hired a record number of technical environment staff.
As part of its broader strategy, Nairobi has committed to reducing emissions by 51% by 2035. The city plans to achieve this through multifaceted approaches such as urban greening, sustainable municipal solid waste management, the adoption of clean transport alternatives, and green energy solutions. These efforts are aligned with Nairobi’s goal of creating a healthier, more sustainable urban environment for its residents.
The launch of the Breathe Cities Nairobi initiative marks a significant milestone in the city’s ongoing fight against air pollution. By leveraging international partnerships and local resources, Nairobi is poised to make meaningful progress in creating a cleaner, healthier future for all its residents.
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