Air pollution is fast becoming Africa’s most underreported public health crisis. A 2025 report by the African Union and UNEP estimated that the continent loses over $100 billion annually in productivity due to pollution-related illnesses.
Cities like Lagos, Cairo, and Johannesburg recorded PM2.5 levels five times higher than WHO standards. In Lagos alone, respiratory illnesses linked to pollution accounted for 28% of hospital admissions last year, according to Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health.
Beyond the health toll, investors are beginning to notice the economic implications. Kenya’s green transport startup, Roam Motors, raised $35 million in March to scale electric buses in Nairobi. In Nigeria, Lagos State partnered with the African Development Bank on a $200 million Clean Air and Mobility Project that will roll out 1,000 electric tricycles by 2026.
“Air pollution is a silent tax on growth,” said Dr. Tolu Ajayi, Director of Public Health at Nigeria’s Ministry of Environment. “The business case for clean energy and mobility is also a healthcare case.”
The WHO will push for stronger commitments on air quality at COP30, where Africa’s negotiators are expected to link climate action with health financing.
