AirQo Named Finalist for Earthshot Prize
The initiative aims to improve respiratory health by mapping air pollution across 16 African cities.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Asthma
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The Earthshot Prize has selected AirQo as one of its 15 finalists for 2026. This initiative currently monitors air quality for over 30 million people across Africa, providing crucial data to help manage local pollution levels.
Why it matters
Air pollution was the second-leading risk factor for death across Africa in 2019, associated with 1.1 million deaths. By providing localized data, this initiative aims to help communities and policymakers address the severe lack of health-relevant environmental information.
The Earthshot Prize selection evaluated 15 finalists from a pool of nearly 7,000 nominations to support environmental health innovations. The initiative currently maintains 500 air quality monitors across nine African countries to provide real-time tracking of pollutants.
The players
AirQo
An initiative founded at Makerere University that uses air quality monitors and artificial intelligence to map pollution.
The Earthshot Prize
A global environmental prize founded by Prince William in 2020 to support solutions to climate and health challenges.
Makerere University
A research institution based in Uganda that serves as the founding home of the AirQo initiative.
The details
Founded in 2015 at Makerere University, AirQo uses low-cost sensors and artificial intelligence to measure particulate matter. The network also utilizes mobile monitors mounted on motorcycles to capture street-level pollution data in dense urban environments. This granular information fills a critical gap in local health monitoring, allowing for better identification of high-risk areas for respiratory conditions.
Timeline
2015: AirQo was founded at Makerere University.
2019: Air pollution was identified as Africa's second-leading risk factor for death.
2020: Prince William founded the Earthshot Prize.
November 2026: The Earthshot Prize Awards ceremony will take place in Mumbai.
2030: AirQo aims to expand its monitoring network to reach 50 cities.
Health Landscape
This development represents a significant expansion of air quality monitoring efforts within the Clean Our Air category of the Earthshot Prize. It marks a departure from reliance on sparse regional data, moving toward the high-resolution, AI-driven tracking necessary for modern public health intervention.
Access to localized air quality data can help individuals with asthma or other respiratory conditions avoid high-pollution environments. It is worth discussing with your doctor how local air quality reports might impact your specific management plan during high-pollution days.
The takeaway
Reliable data on street-level pollution is a vital tool for reducing the burden of respiratory disease. Residents in affected areas should monitor local alerts and consult a physician to understand how current air quality indices relate to their specific respiratory health needs.
Further reading
Learn more about the environmental triggers of respiratory conditions in our 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?
