The EPIC Air Quality Fund receives a surge of demand from highly-polluted countries with limited infrastructure

The EPIC Air Quality Fund was launched in July 2024 with $1.5 million from Open Philanthropy. The Fund aims to expand air quality data access globally and reach 1 billion people by 2030 by supporting local groups and organizations in installing monitors and providing open data to communities that could benefit the most.

In September 2024, the Fund closed its first round of applications. The application process revealed an urgent call by local actors across the world to establish basic air quality infrastructure to achieve national-level impacts in their countries. To offer a deep-dive analysis of the global cohort of local actors who applied – and who are poised to drive clean air action in their countries – the Fund released a “Snapshot of 2024 Global Air Quality Actors: A Surge of Local Demand for Data.”

Report highlights:

• The first call for proposals attracted a surge of applications across the world: 322 applicants from 74 countries. The majority are from regions most heavily affected by particulate pollution: Asia, Africa and Latin America.
• 75% of the applicants are from countries EPIC has previously identified as “higher priority” for support, given the countries’ particulate pollution levels and limited resources.
• About 10% of applicants are from government entities, including city governments, environmental agencies, and state-owned hospitals. This government interest showcases a strong and currently unmet demand for basic air quality infrastructure.
• 87% of applicants have experience in air quality monitoring, yet only 23% have had the opportunity to lead such projects. This gap in air quality leadership in countries with the most opportunity to make giant strides is indicative of larger structural and financial barriers to resources — and highlights an opportunity for air quality capacity-building and leadership support in places where they are needed most.

Read the full report here.

EPIC anticipates making 10-15 awards and is seeking additional partners to help fund more highly qualified applicants to close air quality data gaps globally. If you or your organization are interested, please contact Christa Hasenkopf: chasenkopf@uchicago.edu.