Despite contributing the least to global emissions, vulnerable communities face worsening air pollution, rising deaths, and economic devastation—who will act?
Choking on Progress
Toxic air killed 1.1 million people across Africa in 2019—more than tobacco, alcohol, car accidents, and unsafe water combined. Breathing shouldn’t be deadly, yet for millions, it is.
Cities are growing fast. By 2060, more than 65% of Africa’s population will live in urban areas, where pollution from factories, traffic, and dirty fuel sources chokes the air. The price? Millions of lives, failing economies, and irreversible environmental damage.
The irony is hard to ignore. Africa contributes the least to global emissions yet suffers some of the worst consequences. Biomass burning, vehicle emissions, and industrial expansion fuel the crisis. Climate change only makes things worse—hotter, drier conditions send dust and pollutants swirling into the air. By 2030, outdoor air pollution will cause 930,000 premature deaths annually. By 2063, that number will rise to 1.6 million. That’s nearly double the number from 2030.
And the cost? Immense. In 2019 alone, pollution-related deaths drained economies while. . .
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