A new £2.8 million joint investment has been announced by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and Bloomberg Philanthropies to expand the Breathe London air quality monitoring programme.
The initiative, first launched in 2021, allows Londoners to access real-time, hyperlocal air quality data. This next phase aims to strengthen efforts to tackle air pollution across the capital, with 146 new sensors set to be deployed, including 10 around Oxford Street to monitor the impact of a planned pedestrianisation scheme.
The updated Breathe London programme will now be led by a consortium of expert partners headed by Vodafone. It will include input from Global Action Plan, Airly, Ricardo, Scotswolds Ltd, Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants, and the University of Cambridge. The Breathe London Community Programme will continue to be delivered by Imperial College London, with support from Clean Air Fund and The Social Innovation Partnership.
“The first phase of my pioneering Breathe London programme has been a game-changer for Londoners wanting to clean up the air they breathe, empowering communities and organisations with real-time, hyperlocal data,” said Sadiq Khan. “I am delighted that Vodafone will lead the programme’s next phase, equipping Londoners with the tools to raise awareness of air pollution and take action on a local level.”
The programme’s first phase saw over 60 sensors installed by 60 community groups across 24 boroughs. Data collected has already contributed to cleaner air initiatives, including reducing nitrogen dioxide levels by up to 23 percent outside some schools during pick-up and drop-off times. In Dulwich, data supported the creation of one of London’s most ambitious school streets schemes, and a community group in Tower Hamlets used air quality data to inspire a year-long knitting project to raise awareness.
The new funding will also support public engagement initiatives such as school and hospital working groups, on-site training sessions, and annual webinars. A redesigned Breathe London website has now launched to provide live data and resources for local organisations and residents.
Michael R. Bloomberg, U.N. Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Climate Ambition and Solutions and Founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies, joined the Mayor in making the announcement during London Climate Action Week. The event also marked the 20th anniversary of C40 Cities and the two-year anniversary of the Breathe Cities initiative, which now spans 14 cities worldwide and has installed over 1,000 sensors globally.
Sadiq Khan added: “Tackling the capital’s toxic air has been one of my top priorities since I took office, and it’s fantastic to gather with global Mayors in the capital during London Climate Action Week and celebrate our achievements in accelerating global climate action. Bloomberg, Clean Air Fund and C40 Cities have been just a few of the key players in this mission, and it’s incredible to see what C40 Cities have accomplished in 20 years. I look forward to working with all our partners as we build a better, fairer London for all.”
London Climate Action Week runs until 29 June and is the largest city-wide climate festival in Europe, hosting more than 700 events and attracting over 45,000 people annually.
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