New support builds on early successes in 14 cities where mayors have deployed nearly 1,200 air quality sensors, implemented 26 local clean air policies, and reduced harmful pollution
Expansion to Addis Ababa and Madrid deepens Breathe Cities’ impact across five continents as demand rises for data-driven solutions to cut pollution and protect public health
LONDON, 23 June 2026 – Today, at London Climate Action Week, Bloomberg Philanthropies announced a $45 million investment to grow Breathe Cities, a global initiative delivered with Clean Air Fund and C40 Cities to improve air quality and protect public health. The funding will support the initiative’s work across its growing network of cities, helping local leaders deploy data-driven solutions, strengthen clean air policies, and accelerate efforts to reduce pollution and improve public health outcomes.
As part of this next phase, Addis Ababa and Madrid will join the 14 existing cities in the Breathe Cities network, bringing the total number of participating Breathe Cities to 16 worldwide. Beyond these cities, the initiative has engaged more than 60 cities globally through peer learning, technical exchange, and knowledge-sharing efforts that help accelerate action on air quality and public health.
Michael R. Bloomberg, UN Special Envoy on Climate Ambition and Solutions and founder of Bloomberg L.P. and Bloomberg Philanthropies, said: “Through Breathe Cities, local leaders continue to lead the way in cleaning the air. Every step forward helps to save lives, improve public health, and reduce emissions – all while making cities better places to live and work. This new investment will build on the progress mayors are making – and help spread that progress to even more cities.”
Building on Bloomberg Philanthropies’ global air quality work and inspired by pilot programs in London and Warsaw, Breathe Cities launched in 2023 to help mayors turn air quality data into action. As cities around the world face growing pressure to address pollution and its impacts on public health, the initiative has become a model for helping local leaders pair better data with practical solutions. Bloomberg Philanthropies’ new investment will build on strong early momentum by expanding support for participating cities and strengthening peer learning among mayors and city leaders, helping proven clean air approaches reach more communities worldwide.
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London and co-chair of C40 Cities, said: “London began our partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies in 2019 with a shared mission to tackle the toxic air in cities. Since then, we’ve achieved remarkable results by putting real-time data into the hands of our communities. In London, we’ve developed the world’s largest clean air zone, one of biggest electric bus fleets in the world, and deployed air sensors on over 500 school streets. From Bogotá to Sofia, cities across the world are adopting and expanding clean air zones inspired by the success of London’s clean air zone.
“I am proud of what we have built with the support of Breathe Cities and Bloomberg Philanthropies, and this new investment means that the progress made here will continue to inspire cities everywhere, as well as making London a cleaner, healthier city for everyone.”
Globally, air pollution remains one of the most significant public health challenges, contributing to millions of deaths each year and increasing the risk of asthma, respiratory disease, heart disease, and other serious health conditions. While many cities understand the major sources of pollution – from transportation to heating – they often lack the localized data and technical capacity needed to design targeted interventions and measure progress.
Cecilia Vaca Jones, Executive Director of Breathe Cities, said: “Air pollution damages our health from before we take our first breath until our last, and every child deserves to grow up breathing clean air. This funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies allows us to go further: reaching more communities and cities, supporting more local partners, and giving more people the tools to act on clean air in their own neighborhoods. We are grateful to Bloomberg Philanthropies for their continued commitment to the cities that are proving what’s possible.”
To date, Breathe Cities has helped cities reduce toxic nitrogen dioxide pollution by 14% – demonstrating how targeted local action can improve public health and the air people breathe every day. Since its launch in 2023, Breathe Cities has:
- Expanded Access to Air Quality Data: Cities have deployed nearly 1,200 air quality sensors, helping local leaders and communities use real-time data to identify street-level hotspots and pollution sources where people live, work, and play. In Paris, localized air quality data helped support traffic restrictions on 300 streets and the phaseout of the city’s most polluting vehicles, while Accra and Nairobi established their first low-cost monitoring networks to track hyper-local pollution.
- Advanced Clean Air Policies: Cities have designed and implemented 26 local clean-air policies to reduce pollution and improve quality of life. In London, data from more than 330 sensors supported policies including the world’s largest Ultra-Low Emissions Zone and traffic restrictions on more than 500 school streets, helping the city meet legal nitrogen dioxide limits for the first time, nearly 200 years earlier than experts once projected. In Jakarta, a landmark bus electrification policy is helping accelerate cleaner transportation. Across the initiative, 10 cities have committed to implementing Clean Air Zones by 2030, improving air quality in areas where more than 18 million people live and work.
- Deployed Cleaner Infrastructure: Cities have accelerated the transition to cleaner transportation and heating systems, with over 7,500 electric buses now operating across the Breathe Cities network. In Bogotá, more than 1,500 electric buses serve nearly 600,000 daily journeys as part of one of the world’s largest zero-emission bus fleets, while Warsaw and Sofia have replaced approximately 24,500 polluting household heating systems.
Beyond supporting on-the-ground action, Breathe Cities is helping build a global movement for cleaner air. Public awareness efforts have reached more than 200 million people, while international workshops, study tours, and peer-learning exchanges are helping city leaders replicate proven clean air solutions and accelerate progress.
With the addition of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Madrid, Spain, Breathe Cities will span 16 cities across five continents, creating a growing network of mayors working to reduce pollution and improve public health. The other Breathe Cities include Accra, Ghana; Bangkok, Thailand; Bogotá, Colombia; Brussels, Belgium; Jakarta, Indonesia; Johannesburg, South Africa; London, England; Mexico City, Mexico; Milan, Italy; Nairobi, Kenya; Paris, France; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Sofia, Bulgaria; and Warsaw, Poland.
Adanech Abiebie, Mayor of Addis Ababa, said: “Addis Ababa is proud to be joining Breathe Cities, as a city already in transformation with hundreds of kilometers of cycling lanes and sensors to understand exactly where pollution is hitting hardest. We are incredibly grateful for the targeted backing from Mike Bloomberg and Bloomberg Philanthropies through their commitment to bringing positive change to cities around the world. And, with COP32 coming to Addis Ababa in 2027, we have an extraordinary opportunity to show what African cities can achieve when partners place their trust and resources behind our vision.”
Michael Kpakpo Allotey, Mayor of Accra, said: “I am proud that Accra is leading clean air action for West Africa. For the first time, we have real-time data that tells us exactly where pollution is hitting hardest and who it is hurting most. We thank Mike Bloomberg and Bloomberg Philanthropies for their incredible dedication to improving lives in the city of Accra.”
Clara Brugada, Head of Government, Mexico City, said: “Clean air is a common good and a human right for everyone. With more than 22 million people commuting daily in our metropolitan area, reducing transport-related pollution is one of the most urgent actions we can take for public health. Through Breathe Cities, we are deploying low-cost sensors to identify where the population is exposed to pollution and take action at a neighborhood level, safeguarding this right where it is needed most. We are proud to be part of this new phase of the initiative among cities making the most ambitious commitments.”
Eduardo Cavaliere, Mayor of Rio de Janeiro, said: “Rio de Janeiro is committed to building a healthier, more sustainable and people-centered city. Our Low Emission District in downtown Rio is an important step in reimagining public spaces, improving air quality and creating a better urban environment for residents, workers and visitors alike. We know that cities have a leading role in tackling pollution, and Rio is proud to join a global network that is turning ambition into action. With the support of Breathe Cities and Bloomberg Philanthropies, we are accelerating efforts to reduce emissions, improve quality of life and help shape a more resilient future for our communities.”
Carlos Fernando Galán, Mayor of Bogotá, said: “In Bogotá, we have shown that cities in the Global South can lead on this issue. With the support of Breathe Cities and Bloomberg Philanthropies, our Zonas Urbanas por un Mejor Aire (clean air zones) are bringing cleaner streets to the neighbourhoods that have carried the heaviest burden for too long, and that work will only go further with this new investment.”
Emmanuel Grégoire, Mayor of Paris, said: “Paris is undergoing a profound transformation to become a healthier and more breathable city. Over the past two decades, traffic has been cut in half within the city, freeing space for people, nature, and cleaner mobility. Through Breathe Cities, we are scaling up this shift — expanding school streets and creating greener, more child-friendly public spaces across neighborhoods. From 1,000 school streets to the transformation of major avenues into green, walkable corridors, we are on the way to progressively reshape Paris block by block. Our ambition is clear: cleaner air, a more sustainable city, and a better quality of life for all Parisians.”
H.E. Hon. Sakaja Arthur Johnson, Governor of Nairobi City County, said: “Our network of 50 city-owned sensors that launched in 2025 is not just an investment in monitoring — it is an investment in our future. For the first time, Nairobi controls its own data which informs us of where pollution is worst, who is most at risk, and where policy must act. Through the expansion of Breathe Cities and support of Mike Bloomberg, we have the tools to go from knowing the problem to solving it.”
José Luis Martínez-Almeida, Mayor of Madrid, said: “As one of the newest members of Breathe Cities, I am inspired by the progress achieved by fellow cities and I look forward to raising Madrid’s air quality ambitions in the coming years. My priority as mayor is the health and well-being of every resident. Which is why we have reduced nitrogen dioxide pollution by over 40% in 15 years, through electrifying our bus fleet, expanding cycling infrastructure, and building one of Europe’s most ambitious clean air strategies. The data, tools, and experience of this global community are exactly what Madrid needs to go further.”
Cllr Dada Morero, Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, said: “Johannesburg is building sub-Saharan Africa’s first Clean Air Zone hand in hand with our young residents. The energy and leadership of our youth has been extraordinary. With Breathe Cities’ support, we have the data and the will to make it happen for the future of our city.”
Ans Persoons, State Secretary of the Brussels-Capital Region for the Environment, responsible for Climate, Urban Renewal, Heritage and the Image of Brussels, said: “Clean air is not a privilege, it is a fundamental right and a responsibility we owe to current and future generations. In Brussels, we have made air quality and public health a defining priority, investing in cleaner public transport, greener public spaces, building renovation and bold measures such as the Low Emission Zone. Through Breathe Cities, we are strengthening this commitment with the support of a global coalition of cities determined to turn ambition into action. Together, we are demonstrating that climate leadership can deliver tangible benefits for people’s health and quality of life, while building a greener, healthier and more resilient future for all.”
Giuseppe Sala, Mayor of Milan, said: “Milan is redesigning the city around people, proving that cleaner air and a more livable city go hand in hand. By expanding pedestrian spaces, protecting school streets, and implementing one of Europe’s most ambitious low-emission zones, we are putting people’s health and quality of life at the center of urban regeneration. Breathe Cities has helped us turn ambition into measurable progress and engaging residents as we build a healthier, more resilient future”.
Vasil Terziev, Mayor of Sofia, said: “Partnering with Breathe Cities gives us the tools to build the evidence, design policies that work in practice, and bring residents with us on our journey to tackle air pollution in Sofia. Our administration is committed to a holistic approach, confronting the roots of pollution through systemic reforms and bold decisions. The impact of our strategy is already evident, highlighted by a 52% decrease in days with pollution levels above the norms this year. Collaborating with Breathe Cities reinforces our conviction that we are on the correct path, and we take great pride in Sofia’s emergence as a key participant in Europe’s leadership for a sustainable urban future.”
Rafał Trzaskowski, Mayor of Warsaw, said: “Helping households make the switch to cleaner fuels has helped Warsaw nearly halve its pollution since 2010. In the next phase of Breathe Cities’ work, we’re thrilled to continue improving the health and lives of residents through transparent data collection and policies that make an impact now and for future generations.”
Pramono Anung Wibowo, Governor of Jakarta, said: “Jakarta is continuously taking bold action on clean air — electrifying our buses, limiting our most polluting vehicles, and building the evidence base for a Low Emission Zone. Breathe Cities has supported us with technical expertise and advisory support to strengthen these initiatives. I am pleased that Breathe Cities work will expand and am determined to deliver cleaner air for our residents.”
Today’s commitment builds on Bloomberg Philanthropies’ decades-long work to improve air quality in cities. Rooted in Mike Bloomberg’s leadership as three-term Mayor of New York City, where air pollution reached a 50-year low, Bloomberg Philanthropies supports air quality efforts at the national and local levels through data collection, technical support, public awareness, and science-based solutions that help cities reduce pollution and share proven approaches with peers around the world.
Jane Burston OBE, CEO and Founder of Clean Air Fund, said: “Bloomberg Philanthropies’ long-term commitment to clean air has helped transform what cities believe is possible. Through Breathe Cities, we are seeing cities across five continents adopting ambitious policies, cutting pollution, and empowering communities to drive change – and this expansion will allow more cities to deliver cleaner air and healthier futures for their residents. Clean Air Fund is proud to power this work alongside our partners.”
Mark Watts, Executive Director of C40 Cities, said: “Twenty years on from C40’s founding, the work we are doing with Bloomberg Philanthropies has never been more urgent or necessary. Together, we have helped cities build the infrastructure, the coalitions, and the political will to deliver cleaner air and healthier lives for millions of people. Breathe Cities is a clear example of what our partnership can achieve. Today’s investment is proof that local leadership, backed by the right global support, can drive change at a scale that matters.”
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About Bloomberg Philanthropies:
Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 700 cities and 150 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on creating lasting change in five key areas: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s giving, including his foundation, corporate, and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a philanthropic consultancy that advises cities around the world. In 2025, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $4.3 billion. For more information, please visit bloomberg.org, sign up for our newsletter, or follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Threads, Facebook, and X.
Media Contact:
Penelope Hoopes penelope@bloomberg.org
About Breathe Cities:
Breathe Cities is a global initiative supporting cities to clean the air and enhance public health. Delivered by Bloomberg Philanthropies, Clean Air Fund and C40 Cities, the initiative offers cities tools to take ambitious clean air action by expanding access to data and raising public awareness. Launched in 2023 by Michael R. Bloomberg, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Climate Ambition and Solutions and founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies, and Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London and C40 Cities Co-Chair, Breathe Cities is accelerating action in 16 cities to improve the air more than 88 million people breathe. To learn more, visit Breathe Cities’ website or follow on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Media Contact:
breathecities@fgsglobal.com
About C40:
C40 is a network of nearly 100 mayors of the world’s leading cities working to deliver the urgent action needed right now to confront the climate crisis and create a future where everyone, everywhere, can thrive. Mayors of C40 cities are committed to using a science-based and people-focused approach to limit global heating in line with the Paris Agreement and build healthy, equitable and resilient communities. We work alongside a broad coalition of representatives from labour, business, the youth climate movement and civil society to support mayors to halve emissions by 2030 and help phase out fossil use while increasing urban climate resilience and equity.
The current co-chairs of C40 are Mayor Sadiq Khan of London, United Kingdom, and Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr of Freetown, Sierra Leone; three-term Mayor of New York City Michael R. Bloomberg serves as President of the Board. C40’s work is made possible by our three strategic funders: Bloomberg Philanthropies, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation and Realdania.
To learn more about the work of C40 and our cities, please visit our website or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Media Contact:
media@c40.org
About the Clean Air Fund:
Clean Air Fund is a global philanthropic organisation working to create a future where everyone breathes clean air.
We bring together governments, funders, businesses, and campaigners to find and scale solutions that reduce air pollution. We focus our efforts where the need and potential for impact are greatest: in Ghana, India, Indonesia, Poland, South Africa, the UK and across the EU, and in cities across Africa, Latin America, Asia and Europe. Through funding, partnerships and advocacy, we generate better air quality data, support new evidence and solutions, and influence decision-makers to act.
To learn more, visit our website or follow us on LinkedIn.
Media Contact:
Amy Leach aleach@cleanairfund.org