The cost of dirty air, and Africa’s search for solutions

What the report says

Africa’s air pollution problem is increasingly being framed as a development and finance issue, not only a public health concern, according to The Independent Uganda’s analysis of the 2026 Africa Clean Air Forum in Pretoria, South Africa. The forum, hosted at the University of Pretoria from July 13-16, drew more than 500 policymakers, scientists, city leaders, financiers and environmental advocates from over 45 countries to discuss how to turn cleaner-air research into action.

The report says delegates agreed that African cities have stronger evidence than ever showing the damage caused by polluted air, including effects on health, productivity and urban growth. But the main obstacle is implementation: Africa receives less than 1% of global clean air investment, and experts at the meeting said governments and development partners must do far more to fund practical solutions. The article highlights calls to present clean-air projects as economic investments that can reduce healthcare costs, improve worker health and support better education and investment conditions.

Speakers cited the need for stronger monitoring, research and project preparation to make the case for funding. The discussion also covered blended finance, carbon markets, green bonds and climate finance as possible tools, alongside support from philanthropic groups such as the Clean Air Fund and others. The article places this within a broader shift across Africa, where clean air is being linked to transport, energy and infrastructure planning as cities grow rapidly and pollution pressures rise.