Nairobi is hosting the Clean Air Forum 2025, aimed at tackling air pollution in African cities. Innovators, air quality experts,scientists and policymakers from Africa and beyond are deliberating on combating the invisible threat.
The forum aims to foster knowledge sharing and cross-border partnerships in line with the aspirations outlined in the UNEA-6/10 resolution on regional cooperation.It builds on the previous Clean air forum editions held in Kampala in 2023 and Lagos in 2024.
The summit will also enable collective learning and knowledge sharing, reviewing the progress in adopting best practices for utilising emerging technologies, such as low-cost sensors, Artificial Intelligence, and remote sensing, to close the data gaps in African cities.
“We communicate to empower,this forum is a platform that enables all of us to work together to achieve clean air,” said Prof. Engineer Bainomugisha, Director AirQo.
He emphasized that clean air solutions require joint efforts across all disciplines.
Speaking on the second day of the forum, Dr Justus Simba, a lecturer at JKUAT Department of Child Health and Paediatrics noted that children from cities like Nairobi are likely to suffer from lung related diseases due to prolonged exposure to air pollution.
“There is a lot of global evidence showing that children’s lungs are affected when they live in polluted environments. Studies have also looked at patients, and as a lung specialist, I can say that the key change needed is either reducing pollution or moving them to cleaner areas,” he said.
“Air is polluted both outside and inside the house. For indoor air, simple measures like keeping windows open during the day and in colder months, will help reduce pollutants,” added Dr.Simba.
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.
