Today is Earth Day. We already posted a blog, where we shared the origins of Earth Day, and described how air pollution affects flora, fauna, and our atmosphere. Most of all, we emphasized that we should care about our planet every day, not just on special occasions. Communities, NGOs, civil society, and researchers around the world do exactly that; they fight for clean air continuously. Even if people aren’t listening and governments don’t take action, these organisations spend countless hours trying to make the air that we breathe safe. So this Earth Day, we want to emphasize their important work and impressive commitment.
No matter how bleak the current state of international political support for climate change mitigation looks, we should remember that Earth Day was and still is a day for different groups combating environmental harm to come together. Regardless of the cause, whether it is fighting oil spills, overfishing, pesticides, or vehicle emissions, Earth Day is a day for collaboration and collective action.
This Earth Day, we took this value and tried to emulate it as best we could. As we already wrote about in our blog post “Radio and Chameleons: What Our Community Workshops Taught Us About Outreach”, we are starting to create a network of communities that we support in their communication efforts. This includes creating awareness campaign templates for them, assisting with their graphic design efforts, and overall, providing a platform for them to learn from each other and share resources. So far, it’s been going very well, and Earth Day was our first attempt at a simultaneous and collaborative social media campaign. Under a shared banner, with 13 participating organisations’ logos visible, each community is localising the templates we offered and spreading awareness for their individual cause on Earth Day. Here’s a short overview of the organisations and their achievements.
The Organisations We Are Working With
TETFund Centre of Excellence in Biodiversity Conservation and Ecosystem Management (TCEBCEM) - University of Lagos, Nigeria
TCEBCEM is committed to advancing biodiversity conservation and sustainable ecosystem management through cutting-edge research, capacity building, and community engagement. Their work focuses on promoting environmental sustainability, supporting evidence-based policymaking, and fostering collaborations that address pressing ecological challenges. They actively engage in environmental education, conservation initiatives, and stakeholder-driven projects aimed at improving livelihoods while preserving natural resources.
Clean Air Zambia - Lusaka, Zambia
Clean Air Zambia is an NGO focused on promoting clean air, environmental protection and healthier communities in Zambia. Our objectives include raising awareness on air pollution, encouraging proper waste management, supporting tree planting initiatives and promoting sustainable environmental practices.
Sustenta Honduras - Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Sustenta Honduras is a youth-led nonprofit technology organisation that acts as an applied think tank, promoting innovative solutions for sustainability and climate action. Through initiatives such as their Aire Limpio project, they deploy air quality monitors and build educational platforms reaching schools and communities across the country, working to raise awareness and drive policy action on air pollution*.*
Almaty Air Initiative - Almaty, Kazakhstan
The Almaty Air Initiative is a private foundation established in 2024, dedicated to combating air pollution and restoring environmental justice in the city of Almaty. Through rigorous measurement, data analysis, and public engagement, their work aims to drive systemic change in air quality, with a model designed to be replicated in other cities facing similar challenges.
Communities Against Pollution - KwaDukuza, South Africa
Communities Against Pollution (CAP) is a nonprofit organisation that operates an independent air quality monitoring network across the North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, making all data publicly accessible. Funded entirely by private donations, CAP works to hold polluters and local government accountable through real-time data, school outreach campaigns, and citizen-led advocacy for the right to clean air.
Clean Energy Nepal
Clean Energy Nepal mobilises citizens, particularly youth, for evidence-based advocacy and action for building a healthy, carbon-neutral and climate-resilient society, more specific on air quality, climate action and urban mobility.
The Demography Project - Kenya
The Demography Project is a youth-led nonprofit organisation that leverages civic technology, citizen science, and environmental journalism to enhance community capacity for freshwater and atmospheric resource responsibility. Through their Infrastracker initiative, they monitor the impact of public infrastructure on hyperlocal communities and ecosystems, deploying air quality sensors and engaging residents on the health risks of pollution from biomass use, construction, and quarrying.
Air Aware Labs - London, United Kingdom
Air Aware Labs is a technology company founded in 2024, dedicated to transforming how people interact with air quality data by providing real-time, hyper-local insights tailored to individual locations and activities. Their flagship product, AirTrack, uses AI and real-time data to deliver personalised pollution insights, helping users track exposure, optimise routes, and make informed decisions to protect their health.
UrbanBetter Cityzens - Africa
UrbanBetter Cityzens is an Africa-led global movement that equips and connects youth citizen scientists to increase demand for healthy, climate-resilient urban environments and mainstream youth participation in urban decision-making. Organised as a network of Cityzens Hubs, the movement uses wearable sensors, data visualisation tools, and community mobilisation to generate hyperlocal evidence on health-climate risks such as air quality, heat, and walkability.
Smart Air Bangladesh - Dhaka, Bangladesh
Founded in 2019, Smart Air Bangladesh is a social business focused on helping people protect themselves from air pollution by providing accessible and affordable air purifiers, filters, and pollution sensors. Through awareness campaigns and educational initiatives, they empower people to take action against the severe air quality challenges facing Bangladesh.
Clean Air Asia - Manila, Philippines
Clean Air Asia is an international NGO leading the regional mission for better air quality and healthier, more livable cities throughout Asia, working to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions across the region. They empower governments and cities through policy guidance, capacity building, and fostering regional cooperation, integrating air quality management across sectors and institutions at city, national, and regional levels.
Air Quality Communications Network - Worldwide
AQCN is a global online network connecting researchers, advocates, and professionals dedicated to improving air quality worldwide. The platform provides members with dedicated topic spaces, professional profiles, and collaborative tools to share research, data, and strategies in the collective effort for cleaner, healthier air.
AirQo - Africa
AirQo was founded in 2015 at Makerere University with a mission to empower communities across Africa with information about the quality of the air they breathe, deploying locally designed, low-cost air quality monitors suited to the African context. By leveraging advanced technologies and AI-powered models to provide accurate, hyperlocal, and real-time air quality data, AirQo works with governments, researchers, and communities to reduce air pollution and drive evidence-based policy change across African cities.
A huge shoutout to all of these organisations and the hard-working people who dedicate themselves to cleaner air for us all, every day. Thank you.
