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Only 24 of 54 African countries operate any air quality monitoring systems, with even fewer tracking key pollutants.

Air pollution is one of Africa’s deadliest and most under-recognized crises—costing countries like Ghana $1.6 billion annually, nearly 1% of GDP, in lost productivity and pollution-related illness. Yet without robust monitoring, the scale of this emergency remains dangerously invisible.

This piece argues that tackling the crisis requires more than cleaner fuels—it demands data-driven systems that can track pollution, guide interventions, and unlock financing. Drawing on lessons from Algeria, Tunisia, and Mauritius, it shows how countries investing in real-time monitoring and transparent reporting are not only improving air quality—but reshaping their development trajectories. Read more.