Traslated by Andrés Martínez Forero
It’s happening here, ‘Bogotá, My City, My Home’, has taken a decisive step toward improving its air quality with the launch of Breathe Bogotá, a pioneering local strategy aligned with the global initiative spearheaded by Clean Air Fund, C40 Cities, and Bloomberg Philanthropies. The goal: to cut air pollution by 30% by 2030 in all participating cities.
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Poor air quality is the leading environmental health risk in Bogotá, directly linked to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. According to the city's Environment Secretariat, Bogotá has two main sources of emissions that worsen air quality—especially in the city’s southwest. Unpaved roads account for 30.8% of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions, the most harmful type for human health. This dust, stirred up by daily traffic, is now one of the leading contributors to polluted air in neighborhoods where thousands live. On top of that, 31% of PM2.5 emissions come from freight trucks.
These figures highlight the urgent need to pave critical roads and modernize the freight transport fleet—key measures to protect public health and improve air quality, particularly in communities with the highest vulnerability.
In response to this challenge, and as part of the Breathe Cities initiative, Bogotá’s Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán announced the rollout of Breathe Bogotá, a coordinated strategy involving the Secretariats of Environment, Mobility, Health, and Education, as well as the Bogotá Fire Department and international partners.
“Our administration remains committed to improving air quality, especially in Bogotá’s southwest, where 33% of the population lives and pollution levels are high. Our responsibility is to make informed decisions based on scientific evidence. Being part of this global alliance allows us to leverage technology and data analysis to improve people’s lives,” said Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán.
Breathe Bogotá adds eight strategic actions to the city’s broader efforts to improve air quality. This partnership reinforces the city's commitment to protecting vulnerable populations from air pollution and meeting its public health and air quality goals by 2030.
“The evidence is clear: areas with the worst air pollution are also those with the highest social vulnerability. That’s why our administration is pushing forward comprehensive strategies like the ZUMA initiative in Bosa-Apogeo. Here, we coordinate actions from various city agencies to target the most critical PM2.5 sources and reduce exposure for the most at-risk groups: children and the elderly. Our participation in Breathe Cities will strengthen monitoring efforts, accelerate data-driven decisions, and help us achieve cleaner air—especially in Bogotá’s southwest,” stated Environment Secretary Adriana Soto.
Breathe Cities is a global initiative by Clean Air Fund, C40 Cities, and Bloomberg Philanthropies aimed at improving air quality, reducing carbon emissions, and advancing public health. Its goal is to cut air pollution by 30% by 2030 (compared to 2019 levels) across participating cities, helping to prevent 55,000 premature deaths and the emission of 394 megatons of CO2e. The program is currently active in 14 cities, including Bogotá, London, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, and Mexico City.
“By targeting the most critical pollution hotspots for those who need it most, Bogotá is taking bold steps that can inspire other cities in Latin America and around the world. We hope this collaboration between Breathe Cities and Bogotá helps build a future where all bogotanos can thrive,” said Jane Burston, CEO of the Clean Air Fund.
A Kinder City
Breathe Bogotá is the city’s local strategy with eight targeted actions aligned with the goals of the “Plan Aire” to reduce pollution, improve public health, combat climate change, and meet World Health Organization air quality standards by 2030.
These actions include:
- Supporting the implementation of ZUMAs (Urban Zones for Improved Air).
- Strengthening the air quality monitoring system.
- Implementing innovative solutions for clean and sustainable school transportation.
- Promoting the transition of motorcycles and mopeds to zero-emission technologies.
- Enhancing wildfire prevention and response.
- Analyzing and measuring the impact of vehicles and construction machinery on air quality.
- Developing technologies to estimate and assess health impacts related to air pollution.
- Improving environmental governance by raising awareness about air quality and the impact of daily decisions.
In addition to informing and raising awareness, this strategy positions Bogotá as a model for other cities in Colombia, Latin America, and the world—showcasing that environmental leadership is possible when innovation, political will, and community engagement come together. Breathe Bogotá is a strategic initiative aligned with the city’s Development Plan, integrating health, sustainability, and social justice.
About Breathe Cities
Breathe Cities is a groundbreaking initiative by Clean Air Fund, C40 Cities, and Bloomberg Philanthropies to clean the air, reduce carbon emissions, and improve public health in cities worldwide. Launched in June 2023 by Michael R. Bloomberg, UN Special Envoy for Climate Ambition and Solutions and founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies, together with Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London and Co-Chair of C40 Cities, the initiative aims to break down barriers to action and ensure communities everywhere have access to clean air.
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Breathe Cities brings together data, communities, and city leaders to reduce air pollution and planet-warming emissions by 30% in participating cities by 2030 (based on 2019 levels). This would prevent 55,000 premature deaths, avoid around 111,000 new childhood asthma cases, save $147 billion in hospital costs and preventable deaths, and avoid the emission of 394 megatons of CO2e.
*This article was created using information provided by the Bogotá’s International Relations Office and curated by a journalist from Portal Bogotá. For suggestions, questions, or more information, visit Bogotá Te Escucha: https://bogota.gov.co/sdqs/
