Clearing the Air Together: Pathways for Integrating Citizen Science in Air Quality Management Initiatives

Air pollution is one of today’s greatest public health threats, driving respiratory illness, cardiovascular disease and millions of premature deaths worldwide. Yet in many countries, reliable local data to understand and address these risks is limited. Clearing the Air Together: Pathways for Integrating Citizen Science in Air Quality Management Initiatives highlights how citizen science can bridge this gap by involving the public directly in monitoring and research. The guide demonstrates how rigorous scientific methods can be paired with active public participation to generate timely, relevant evidence that strengthens decision-making and health responses. The suggested strategies are practical, low-cost and scalable, making them suitable for settings ranging from cities to rural towns. While focused on air quality, the approaches are flexible and can be adapted to challenges such as water safety, disaster risk or public health monitoring, offering a powerful tool for building healthier, more inclusive and resilient societies.