After a year that tested global resolve on air pollution, Clean Air Fund is now pressing the government and donors to turn political momentum into financing, tougher laws and real health outcomes by 2026.

Chief Executive Officer of the Clean Air Fund, Jane Burston, says recent gains show progress is possible, but warns that the next phase must move beyond declarations to delivery.

“These wins show what’s possible when we unite behind a shared vision. Our focus will be to build on this progress, and in 2026, we want to see,” she said, outlining a roadmap that includes stronger development financing for clean air, faster adoption of air quality laws in Europe, and deeper integration of air pollution into climate action.

Top of that agenda, Burston said, is recognition of air quality as a development priority.

“Air quality officially recognised as a valuable co-benefit in multilateral and bilateral development donors’ portfolios,” she said, adding that Clean Air Fund will continue pushing for increased investment while helping low- and middle-income countries overcome financing barriers.

She also pointed to looming deadlines in Europe, warning that time is running out for countries to act.

“EU member states transposing the groundbreaking Ambient Air Quality Directive into national law. The deadline for doing this is just one year away.”

Climate action must also do more to tackle short-lived but deadly pollutants, she said, calling for “more integrated climate and clean air action, including embedding black carbon into climate frameworks, and even more countries pledging to reduce black carbon emissions at COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye.”

Another key expectation for 2026 is progress toward global health targets on air pollution.

“National governments solidify plans to deliver the WHO’s voluntary target to halve the health impacts of air pollution by 2040, and effective monitoring of progress towards this goal,” Burston said.

Momentum after a difficult year

The push toward 2026 follows what Burston described as a challenging but consequential year for the clean air movement.

“While 2025 has been a challenging year, we’ve seen clean air rise higher on the global agenda than ever before. The clean air movement is going from strength to strength, and a number of governments are taking decisive steps to protect people and the planet,” she said, noting that “these milestones are proof that when we work together, progress is possible.”

One of the most significant moments came when the G20 formally endorsed air quality for the first time, a move Burston described as historic.

“This endorsement is a turning point in recognising that clean air is not a standalone issue but a cross-cutting priority for sustainable development,” she said.

G20 countries account for about 80 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions and nearly two-thirds of the world’s population.

“Clean Air Fund is proud to have supported the South African G20 Presidency as a knowledge partner on this topic and looks forward to this group of countries continuing to show leadership.”

At the World Health Assembly, governments also backed a new global roadmap to cut premature deaths linked to air pollution by half by 2040. While voluntary, Burston said many countries are already seeking technical support, with early commitments from 24 governments.

Black carbon, industry and national gains

She also highlighted new international action on black carbon, one of the most dangerous air pollutants.

“Black carbon is one of the super pollutants responsible for half of global warming and premature deaths,” Burston said, referencing commitments made by countries at COP30 in Brazil to integrate black carbon into national climate strategies and sectoral plans.

On transparency, she pointed to a new emissions tracking tool launched by Climate TRACE that visualises pollution across more than 2,500 cities using satellite data.

“This is a powerful step forward for air quality transparency, exposing harmful emissions from industrial facilities, while equipping citizens with critical information.”

The United Nations also formally recognised air pollution as a major driver of non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, stroke and cancer. Burston noted that evidence from The Lancet shows poor air quality is the world’s leading risk factor for premature death and disease, even as she said global leaders stopped short of committing fully to WHO’s more ambitious targets.

Ghana and the UK in focus

Burston cited Ghana as a key example of national progress, following the passage of a new Air Quality Management Regulation that establishes a legal framework for nationwide monitoring and requires local authorities to develop District Air Quality Management Plans within three years.

In the United Kingdom, she welcomed the government’s decision to bring forward its deadline for meeting the WHO PM2.5 guideline of 10 micrograms per cubic metre to 2030, aligning the country with European standards.

As governments head into 2026, Burston’s message was clear: the era of recognition is giving way to a test of political will — whether global commitments can translate into cleaner air and fewer premature deaths.

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This story was a collaboration with New Narratives. Funding was provided by the Clean Air Fund which had no say in the story’s content.