Over the same period, fossil fuel prolonging aid surged 80% to $9.5 billion — more than two and a half times the amount directed to clean air worldwide.

    South Africa has made clean air a G20 priority for the first time, under its Presidency theme of "Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability."

    Africa is the fastest-urbanising region in the world, but is being left behind in international clean air finance — risking cities being locked into coal and diesel for decades.

Outdoor air quality funding to Sub-Saharan Africa collapsed by 91% in just one year, from $129 million to $11.8 million. This amounts to less than 1% of all global outdoor air quality funding according to the latest available figures (2023) from Clean Air Fund. The drop comes as fossil fuel prolonging aid surged 80% to $9.5 billion over the same period, more than two and a half times the amount directed to clean air worldwide.

This collapse in African funding comes as South Africa holds the G20 Presidency under the theme "Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability". For the first time, air quality has been placed on the G20's environment and climate agenda as a standalone priority, signalling growing recognition of its importance for health, development and climate.

Outdoor air pollution causes 5.7 million deaths a year, a figure the World Bank projects will rise to 6.2 million by 2040 without stronger action. In Africa, the toll is already severe: independent analysis suggests that in 2019 air pollution caused an estimated 1.1 million premature deaths across the continent. The economic costs are vast too: in South Africa alone, dirty air was estimated to cause 30 million lost workdays in 2025

Earlier this year at the World Health Organization's World Health Assembly, Member States formally endorsed a voluntary target to halve the health impacts of anthropogenic air pollution by 2040 - the first time air quality has been included in a WHO roadmap with a clear global health target tied to pollution reduction. 

Clean Air Fund warns that Sub-Saharan Africa, the fastest urbanising region in the world, is being left behind in international clean air finance. In 2023 the region received less than 1% of all global outdoor air quality funding, despite carrying some of the world's highest pollution burdens. 

The report sets out a clear path for governments and development banks to build on the political momentum created this year at the World Health Assembly and the G20: embed clean air objectives at the core of climate and development finance so every project delivers health as well as economic growth and emissions benefits; direct more resources to Africa and other regions currently left behind, where the pollution burden is high but funding is almost non-existent; and end aid that prolongs fossil fuel use, redirecting finance instead towards a fairer, cleaner transition.

Dr Dion George, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Republic of South Africa, said: "South Africa knows the reality of this crisis. The vast majority of our population breathes air that does not meet WHO guidelines. [...] Yet we have also shown progress is possible — through cross-government action, strong legal frameworks, cleaner transport and energy. As G20 host, we want to ensure clean air is not a privilege for some but a right for all. What is needed now is the finance to match ambition."

Vumile Senene, Country Lead – South Africa, Clean Air Fund, said: "The continent is urbanising at unprecedented speed — and if we let our cities grow on coal and diesel, we will lock in illness and inequality for decades. The 91% collapse in outdoor air quality funding to Sub-Saharan Africa last year is a wake up call. This is where investment is needed most: to save lives, protect health and create fairer, more resilient economies. South Africa has put clean air on the G20 agenda for the first time, and this year's World Health Assembly target shows global recognition is growing. Now we need finance to follow." 

Barbara Buchner, Global Managing Director of Climate Policy Initiative, which co-authored the report, said, "CPI is honored and excited by our ongoing partnership with Clean Air Fund to build the only global dataset that makes air-quality finance flows visible. And what we see currently is not so good – the availability of data from public actors is poor, and when available, the level of finance directed to improve air quality is far too low. But our work confirms that the opportunities are tremendous. With public budgets constrained, increasing air quality finance is one the most impactful investments that can achieve multiple goals: to address climate change, strengthen economies, and significantly improve daily life for millions globally."