Clean Air Champions: Organizations Fighting Pollution

Air pollution is a serious issue that affects the lives of millions worldwide, with 99% of the global population breathing air that exceeds the recommended guideline limits. It is the second-highest risk factor for non-communicable diseases, causing respiratory issues and other health problems. To combat this, various organizations are working tirelessly to reduce air pollution and protect public health. These include non-profit organizations like the Clean Air Task Force (CATF), Green Yatra, and Our Children's Earth Foundation, which aim to improve air quality, raise awareness, and hold governments and industries accountable. Additionally, philanthropic initiatives such as the Clean Air Fund and government partnerships, including the US EPA, are also actively addressing air pollution through policy changes, community action, and global collaborations. These organizations strive to implement solutions and drive change to ensure cleaner air for current and future generations.

Clean Air Task Force (CATF)

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) is a non-profit organization founded in 1996 and based in the United States. CATF has been working for decades to reduce air pollution, protect public health, and limit the impacts of climate change.

CATF collaborates with governments, industry, and civil society around the world to develop policy solutions and strategies that improve air quality globally. One of their key goals is to decarbonize the global energy system to reduce carbon emissions and ensure that everyone has access to clean air, regardless of their location. To achieve this, CATF advocates for the necessary changes in technologies and policies to reach a zero-emissions, high-energy planet at an affordable cost. They also work to catalyze the global development of climate-protecting technologies, such as clean hydrogen technologies, and promote the growth of a clean hydrogen market in the United States.

CATF has also created the Country Methane Abatement Tool (CoMAT), a free tool that helps government regulators and ministries turn their ambitions into action. CoMAT allows countries to estimate their methane emissions, develop mitigation approaches, and design policy strategies to meet their climate goals.

In addition, CATF has identified the need for an upgrade to the energy infrastructure in the United States to accelerate the deployment of clean energy generation. They have published reports and hosted webinars to discuss the barriers to deploying new energy infrastructure and the necessary federal permitting reforms. CATF has also highlighted the importance of addressing methane pollution from the waste sector, which is the world's third-largest source of human-driven methane emissions, to slow down global warming.

Clean Air Fund

The Clean Air Fund is a philanthropic initiative that aims to tackle global air pollution. It was launched at the UN Secretary General's Climate Summit in 2019 and has since raised over $50 million from funders focused on climate change, health, mobility, and children. The Clean Air Fund works with governments, funders, businesses, and campaigners to accelerate action on clean air and deliver it to everyone as quickly as possible. They support diverse organizations and individuals worldwide through grants and other forms of assistance.

The Clean Air Fund provides a global analysis of international development funding for tackling air pollution, highlighting trends and making recommendations for governments and development finance institutions. They also offer a toolkit for integrating air quality improvements into development projects in various sectors, such as transportation and energy. One of their key focuses is on marginalized groups, who are often disproportionately affected by air pollution, and they have launched initiatives to raise awareness and portray the communities impacted by it.

The Clean Air Fund operates in several regions, including India, the United Kingdom, and East and Southeast Europe. They plan to expand to other regions, including Africa, subject to funding. Their work includes supporting grassroots movements, such as GhanaThink's #CleanAirGhana project, which empowers young people to drive community action for better air quality in Ghana. The Clean Air Fund also collaborates with organizations like the Asian Development Bank and Inter-American Development Bank to address air pollution challenges.

The Clean Air Fund recognizes that air pollution is a critical public health issue, causing premature deaths and affecting the health of millions worldwide. By bringing together researchers, policymakers, and campaigners, they aim to find and scale solutions that will improve air quality and protect people's health. They support ambitious policymakers and campaigners, advocating for stricter regulations on air pollution and engaging with the public and private sectors to drive change.

Clean Air in London

One of the key focuses of Clean Air in London is to ensure that air pollution is addressed at the government level. They work to influence policies and decisions made by local and national government bodies, advocating for stricter emissions limits, climate change initiatives, and the reduction of toxic air contaminants. Clean Air in London aims to keep air pollution at the top of the political agenda, ensuring that it receives the attention and resources necessary to bring about meaningful change.

To achieve their goals, Clean Air in London may collaborate with other organisations with similar goals, such as the Clean Air Fund, a global philanthropic initiative working to tackle air pollution. The Clean Air Fund collaborates with governments, funders, businesses, and campaigners to deliver clean air solutions worldwide. They provide grants to diverse organisations and individuals driving change in various countries, including Ghana, Mongolia, Poland, and the UK. Additionally, the Clean Air Task Force (CATF), a US-based non-profit organisation, works to reduce air pollution and protect public health through policy development and collaboration with federal and state partners, research institutions, and industry leaders.

Green Yatra

Additionally, Green Yatra offers climate education sessions, trainings, and workshops for corporates, schools, colleges, and government bodies. They also have a project called "Green Campus," which is specially designed for school and college youths to raise their awareness and prepare them as climate-conscious citizens.

Clean Air Partnership (CAP)

CAP works with local communities across the country to improve air quality, advance transportation, and take action to help the climate. The organisation believes that everyone can play a significant role in fighting for cleaner air. It encourages cities to join the regional clean air effort and make simple changes in their business operations to positively impact their region's air quality.

The Clean Air Council (CAC), a part of CAP, provides invaluable knowledge and services to its members. Through CAC, members can participate in discussion and networking forums, training workshops, seminars, and advocacy on behalf of local governments. CAC also helps members stay informed about current and emerging sustainability issues and solutions, and assists them in accessing data, contacts, and other important information more efficiently and effectively.

The CAC team regularly provides updated views of the local, regional, and provincial contexts. It creates relevant spaces for collaboration and networking, allowing local municipalities to access resources that would otherwise be costly and time-consuming to obtain.

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