Clean air experts and stakeholders have encouraged cross-border transdisciplinary partnerships, collaborations and regional cooperation for African cities.
Speaking during the Clean-Air Forum in Nairobi, global health expert and medical doctor from Nigeria, Babatunde Ajayi, said Africa is demonstrating a commitment to addressing air quality challenges.
In Nigeria, Ajayi said, the country has put forward policies to combat air pollution.
Some of the policies are open-data sharing frameworks through state-level directives to encourage environmental agencies to publish air-quality datasets.
“Policies such as cross-border Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and research agreements with universities and institutions promote quality air in cities,” he said.
He called for funding to be directed to efforts in promoting quality air.
According to Ajayi, African cities should localise manufacturing and enhance efforts to mitigate pollution.
Climate and Clean Air Coalition expert Alice Kaudia said countries should mainstream air pollution in their governments, create awareness and community engagement.
She said youths should be facilitated with funds as they are technologically advanced and will input Artificial Intelligence (AI) to fight air pollution.
Kaudia said cities should focus on advancing partnerships by sharing data, technological information, identifying and capitalising on clean air across the globe.
According to a report, Integrate Assessment on Air Pollution and Climate Change for Sustainable Development Africa, Kaudia said countries should embrace mitigation measures.
The measures are targeted in key areas including transport, industry, agriculture, waste and household energy.
These will reduce emissions of PM2.5, black carbon, and methane, improving health and food security.
It will also prevent hundreds of thousands of deaths, improve crop yields, and mitigate climate change.
According to the report, the implementation requires regional cooperation, strong policies, regulations, investment in clean technology, capacity strengthening and extensive awareness creation.
The experts called for collaboration and unified efforts among African countries in tackling air pollution.
Over 35 countries have convened in Nairobi for the Clean-Air Forum 2025 to discuss policies in mitigating air pollution in cities.
The Clean-Air Forum is an annual convening for the communities of practice in Africa and serves as a platform for knowledge sharing, collaborations, multi-regional partnerships, and networks to tackle air pollution in African cities.
This year’s theme, Partnerships for Clean Air Solutions, seeks to strengthen cross-border transdisciplinary partnerships, evidence generation and capacity for advancing clean air solutions in Africa.
The summit aims to enable collective learning and knowledge
sharing, review the progress in the adoption of best practices for utilising
emerging technologies such as low-cost sensors, Artificial Intelligence, and
remote sensing for closing the data gaps in African cities.
