At the core of IQAir's mission lies a powerful belief: every local effort to enhance air quality can set off a chain reaction of benefits across the globe. It's a mission that drives us to forge transformative partnerships with air quality advocates worldwide, uniting in a common quest for cleaner air. 

Our partnerships span continents, bringing together a diverse coalition of stakeholders — from grassroots activists in bustling cities to innovators in quiet communities. These diverse collaborations enable us to extend our reach far beyond individual efforts. 

Local Initiatives, Global Progress

IQAir is committed to improving public health through innovative monitoring solutions, advocacy, and comprehensive educational efforts. This commitment has led us to establish partnerships with individuals and groups all over the world that are the embodiment of our mission—dynamic, on-the-ground collaborations that are making tangible differences in communities worldwide.

These partnerships are not just initiatives; they are lifelines to healthier living and testimonies to the power of collective action. From the vibrant streets of Latin America to the dense urban fabric of Lahore, Pakistan, and the community-driven projects in Milwaukee, our efforts are grounded in the belief that every local action can catalyze global progress. 

Each project, supported by IQAir's air quality monitoring technology and AirVisual platform, not only addresses the unique challenges of its locale but also contributes to a larger narrative of environmental and public health improvement.

The Latin American Awakening: Amidst bustling Latin American cities and quiet towns, the Aires Nuevos network embarked on a mission to unveil the invisible threat of air pollution. Spearheaded by determined activists and equipped with 80 AirVisual sensors across 28 cities, this initiative has illuminated a path toward cleaner air. 

The journey wasn't without obstacles. Marcela Otto, commercial engineer on the project, recounts the challenge: “Air pollution awareness isn’t common in Latin America. Without air quality awareness, it’s difficult for people affected by air pollution to take effective action and reduce their exposure and risk.” 

The network tracks PM2.5 levels in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and beyond and has sparked a continent-spanning shift towards air quality awareness.  The group has received feedback from communities and schools that the air quality data they provide is extremely beneficial and has proven helpful when planning activities.

Pakistan's Pioneering Push: Lahore, a city cloaked in smog, served as the backdrop for Abid Omar's groundbreaking work.

Facing a government reticent to disclose air quality data, Omar's deployment of AirVisual monitors revealed Lahore's air quality challenges to the world. “Without data, people just think it’s foggy," he said. 

Omar's initiative led to public interest, petitions, and a recalibration of governmental policies towards transparency and action, which now spans across major Pakistani cities, underscoring the power of data in catalyzing policy and societal shifts.

Milwaukee's Mobilization: In Milwaukee, the MKE FreshAir Collective, led by Langston Verdin, tackled the silent but potent threats of industrial and vehicular pollutants. 

Armed with IQAir technology, this initiative mapped the city's air quality landscape and raised awareness about the hazards of poor air quality and its impact on asthma in children. The project became especially important during Canada’s 2023 wildfire season: "The smoke came and really stuck around. It brought air quality to the forefront of our minds,” Verdin said.

Despite the challenge of engaging a diverse and often skeptical public, Verdin's efforts have fostered a community-wide dialogue on health, environment, and action. Since its inception, community interest in the project has grown. "We’ve seen the followers of our air monitors skyrocket from around 6,000 to almost 9,000.” 

Ghana's Groundbreaking Research: Afri-SET in Accra, Ghana, marks a significant stride towards bridging the air quality data gap in Africa.

With the collaboration between local scientists and IQAir's technology, this project endeavors to evaluate low-cost sensors' efficacy in capturing the continent's unique air pollution dynamics. 

“Low-cost sensors are one of the main tools in the toolkit for air quality in the Global South,” explained Dr. Mike Giordano, Executive Director of AfriqAir, a collaborating sensor network in the project.

The challenges of dealing with biomass combustion, old vehicles, and dust from unpaved roads are immense, but the potential to empower communities with actionable air quality data is transformative. Afri-SET's project is a testament to the power of localized research in informing global understanding and action.

The Ripple Effect of Advocacy and Collaboration

The quest for cleaner air is both a marathon and a relay—requiring persistence, collaboration, and the pursuit of sustainable, scalable clean air solutions.

Each story, from the sprawling cities of Latin America to the vibrant communities of Milwaukee and the research facilities in Ghana, highlights not only the challenges of raising awareness, securing engagement, and navigating policy landscapes but also the profound impact of local initiatives in driving global progress. 

IQAir is committed to empowering communities, advancing air quality monitoring technology, and fostering global partnerships.

The actions we take in our local communities have the power to influence global environmental and public health landscapes. By embracing the interconnectedness of our actions, we can collectively contribute to a healthier, more sustainable world.

Join the Movement

To learn how you can become an air quality data contributor like those we’ve highlighted in this piece, please visit https://www.iqair.com/us/air-quality-community.