Philanthropic foundations channelled $330m towards outdoor air quality projects between 2015-22, according to Philanthropic Foundation Funding for Clean Air: Advancing Climate Action, Health and Social Justice, a new report by the Clean Air Fund.

Main sources of funding came from foundations focussed on climate, energy & environment (CEE), health, and social justice, highlighting the cross-cutting benefits that clean air can deliver for all.

Overall growth in funding was driven by new funders such as Bezos Earth Fund and the Earthshot Prize, as well as increased funding via re-granters, including the Clean Air Fund. Total funding from re-granters amounted to over $30mbetween 2021-22.

However, total funding amounts to less than 0.1 per cent of total philanthropic funding globally, despite air pollution causing an estimated 8.3 million deaths each year. Foundation funding in Africa and Latin America remains extremely low, making up only 1 per cent and 2 per cent of total outdoor air quality funding between 2015-22 respectively, despite Africa being home to half of countries with the highest air pollution, as measured by population-weighted PM2.5 exposure.

Jane Burston, CEO, Clean Air Fund, said: “Funding for air quality from foundations has increased but remains a miniscule proportion of total philanthropic funding. Air pollution is one of the most pressing challenges of our time, with 99 per cent of the world still breathing toxic air. I urge funders to recognise that air quality isn’t a niche issue and work together to tackle the problem. By doing so, we can act on climate change, improve our health, strengthen economic outputs, and address social inequality all at the same time.”

The report also provides suggestions for targeting areas where funding is needed the most, such as tropical megacities in Africa, Latin America and Asia, some of which are predicted to house more than 50 million people by 2050.

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