Air is clearing across Beijing, London, San Francisco, and 16 other cities around the world. Driven by transformative actions like the swift uptake of electric cars in China and the creation of cycle lanes in Europe, these cities have slashed air pollutants by astonishing margins — over 20% in some cases, and over 45% in others. "Cities can achieve what was once thought impossible," notes Cecilia Vaca Jones of Breathe Cities, as urban centers worldwide prove that clean air is within reach. From Warsaw’s pivot away from coal to Amsterdam’s nitrogen dioxide cuts, the diversity of strategies shines through. As we grapple with air that touches every stage of life, affecting everything from birth weights to cognitive decline, these interventions remind us of our capacity for change. And in that, there’s a breath of hope.
