AirQo Named Finalist for 2026 Earthshot Prize
The African air quality monitoring initiative has been selected as a finalist for the prestigious climate award.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Asthma
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The Earthshot Prize has selected AirQo as one of 15 finalists for 2026 in the Clean Our Air category. The initiative, which uses AI and low-cost monitors to track pollution, will receive support to expand its reach across Africa.
Why it matters
AirQo addresses the critical lack of locally relevant air quality data in African cities, where pollution was the second-leading risk factor for death in 2019. The initiative aims to leverage this global recognition to expand its monitoring network to 50 cities by 2030.
AirQo currently operates 500 monitors across 16 cities in nine countries, serving 30 million people. The program has previously secured $6 million in funding to combat pollution linked to 1.1 million deaths in Africa in 2019.
The players
AirQo
This initiative utilizes artificial intelligence and low-cost sensors to monitor and improve air quality in African urban centers.
Earthshot Prize
Founded by Prince William, this global environmental initiative rewards innovative solutions to the world's most pressing climate challenges.
Makerere University
Based in Uganda, this institution serves as the founding research center for the AirQo monitoring project.
The details
Founded at Makerere University, AirQo tracks pollution using a combination of static sensors and mobile monitors mounted on motorcycles. This open-data approach provides real-time information to urban populations, helping to map street-level air quality across the region.
Timeline
Makerere University founded AirQo in 2015.
Pollution was the second-leading risk factor for death in Africa in 2019.
Prince William established the Earthshot Prize in 2020.
The 2026 Earthshot Prize winners will be announced in Mumbai in November 2026.
AirQo aims to reach a network of 50 cities by 2030.
The Big Picture
The selection of AirQo as a finalist follows the expansion patterns established by the Clean Air Fund's air quality monitoring networks. AirQo represents a localized application of global strategies supported by such institutions to address urban pollution.
Increased access to real-time air quality data helps residents in monitored cities manage asthma and respiratory risks more effectively. By identifying pollution hotspots, citizens can make informed decisions about their daily outdoor activities and physical exertion.
The takeaway
Reliable data is essential for managing respiratory health in rapidly urbanizing environments. Residents in cities with air monitoring networks can better protect their lung health by tracking pollution levels in their immediate neighborhoods.
Further reading
For more information on the intersection of air quality and health, visit the Asthma section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Observer.
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Should local communities prioritize using low-cost monitoring to manage environmental health risks in their area?
