Call for applications in the EPIC Air Quality Fund
The EPIC Air Quality Fund is currently open for applications until September 10, 2024. Interested parties may apply here. Exceptional applications submitted prior to this deadline may be assessed on a rolling basis.
Particulate matter (PM2.5) represents the foremost health threat to humanity, as indicated by EPIC’s Air Quality Life Index (AQLI), which reveals that the impact of pollution on life expectancy surpasses that of malaria, HIV/AIDS, and transportation-related injuries combined. Research indicates that the installation of air quality monitors and the dissemination of real-time data in regions with limited or no existing data can lead to improved air quality.
However, nearly 40 percent of countries, many identified by satellite data as significantly polluted, fail to provide open air quality data to their populations. This situation is primarily due to a persistent cycle of inequality, where the majority of funding aimed at addressing pollution is allocated to some of the cleanest regions globally.
The EPIC Air Quality Fund aims to disrupt this cycle by offering support to local groups and organizations for the installation of monitors and the provision of open data to communities that stand to gain the most. By making this data available, citizens can better comprehend the severity of the pollution issues in their areas and advocate for necessary changes. Furthermore, this data serves as a crucial reference point for formulating air quality policies and assessing their effectiveness.
The EPIC Air Quality Fund plans to extend support over several years, recognizing that a sustained commitment to local stakeholders is essential for achieving meaningful change. Awardees will be required to share the air quality data they generate in a fully open format (compatible with a CC-BY-4.0 license, with additional guidance available here) and on a publicly accessible platform where this information can be located alongside other global datasets.
This approach ensures that the progress of the initiatives supported by the Fund can be monitored by anyone worldwide, and the data produced can be integrated into various international and national air quality initiatives.
The EPIC Air Quality Fund is currently inviting applications from groups and organizations based in the countries where the monitors will be implemented. The deadline for submissions is September 10, 2024; however, exceptional applications that show significant potential for impact and align with the Fund’s objectives may be considered prior to this date on a continuous basis.
Application – EPIC Air Quality Fund
- The EPIC Air Quality Fund is supported by Open Philanthropy.
- Read more on the underlying research conducted to create the EPIC Air Quality Fund here. Learn about prior EPIC Air Quality Awardees here.
- To learn more and apply, click here.
