New research has revealed some of the planet’s most polluted and economically disenfranchised places are missing out on money to reduce atmospheric toxicity.
Published by Clean Air Fund, the analysis shows that Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar, Cameroon and Democratic Republic of Congo — five of the worst performing countries for air pollution — received less than $2 per person for projects that could improve their atmospheric content.
‘Air quality funding is not going where pollution exposure and health risks are greatest. Funding remains worryingly low, concentrated on a limited number of places, and misaligned with countries facing the greatest burden,’ said Sean Maguire, Executive Director, Strategic Partnerships at Clean Air Fund. ‘With development budgets under growing pressure, clean air objectives must be built into wider development investment, so every dollar works harder and delivers benefits for health, climate and economies at the same time.’
However, there are some significant discrepancies within regions. Myanmar, for example, lost out significantly compared to its Southeast Asian neighbours, where an average of $6.7 was spent on tackling air pollution, peer person. In total, the region received $4.4 billion — largely thanks to effort by the Japan International Cooperation Agency and Asian Development Bank.
‘While it is positive that the air pollution challenges of Southeast Asia are being recognised, funding for the region cannot be limited to a small number of countries, leaving some of the most polluted places behind,’ said Dr Fu Lu, Regional Director for Southeast Asia at the Clean Air Fund. ‘Investment in railways, public transport and cleaner mobility is demonstrating how better connectivity and economic development can go hand in hand with cleaner air. We need these benefits to be shared by many more people and places.’
The following recommendations have now been made to funding bodies, ahead of the Annual Meeting of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group in Bangkok, Thailand, next week:
- Make clean air an explicit objective in country strategies, policies and investments – air quality should be explicitly part of projects led by Multilateral Development Banks, bilateral and multilateral funders, private funders and governments.
- Increase dedicated support for countries with high air pollution but limited borrowing capacity – such as diversifying funding sources like concessional finance, guarantees and technical assistance.
- Prioritise support for investments that cut pollution quickly and deliver rapid benefits – including accelerating action on super pollutants like black carbon and ozone precursors.
‘Tracking where air quality finance actually flows is an essential first step to addressing the gaps,’ said Barbara Buchner, CEO of Climate Policy Initiative. Our analysis shows that money is not yet consistently following need, and that countries facing some of the highest pollution levels often have the least access to finance. As aid budgets tighten, funders need clear evidence to better target resources where they are needed most.’
Image: Wietse Jongsma / Unsplash
More on air pollution: