AI Global Discussion for Cleaner Air, Hinging Success on People, Policy and Partnerships

Artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a powerful tool in the global fight against air pollution, offering governments faster, smarter and more cost-effective ways to monitor air quality, predict pollution trends and direct limited resources where they are needed most. However, technology alone cannot solve one of the world’s most urgent environmental and public health crises.

This was the central message at the World Bank’s recent AI for Clean Air virtual dialogue, where policymakers, researchers, technology innovators and development partners from South Asia and other regions explored how AI is reshaping air quality management while highlighting the need for stronger institutions, public participation and international cooperation.

Air pollution remains one of the greatest barriers to sustainable development. According to the World Bank, nearly one billion people across South Asia breathe hazardous air every day, contributing to an estimated one million premature deaths each year and reducing average life expectancy by more than three years. The health burden also translates into lost productivity, rising healthcare costs, disrupted education and slower economic growth, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where vulnerable communities often bear the greatest risks.

Against this backdrop, AI is helping transform vast amounts of environmental data into practical information for governments and local authorities. Advanced algorithms can process satellite imagery, weather information, emissions records and thousands of sensor readings in real time, enabling officials to identify pollution hotspots, forecast deteriorating air quality and deploy targeted interventions before conditions become critical.

Experts at the event noted that these capabilities are shifting AI applications from small pilot projects to system-wide solutions capable of supporting national and regional air quality strategies. As pollution frequently crosses administrative and national boundaries, countries are increasingly recognising that cleaner air requires coordinated regional action supported by shared data and compatible monitoring systems.

The discussions also highlighted AI’s growing economic potential. Apart fromg improving public health, expanding AI-enabled environmental monitoring is creating opportunities for technology companies, researchers, sensor manufacturers, data analysts and digital service providers. Investments in clean-air technologies could stimulate innovation, generate skilled employment and strengthen green industries, while reducing the economic losses associated with pollution-related illnesses and declining labour productivity.

However, speakers cautioned that technology is only one part of the solution. Drawing on more than three decades of clean-air experience, they stressed that meaningful progress depends on clear policy targets, effective institutions, reliable environmental data and consistent enforcement. AI systems can support decision-making, but governments must ensure that scientific evidence translates into practical policies that deliver measurable improvements.

Political commitment was identified as equally important. Governments face the challenge of balancing economic development with stricter environmental regulations, while addressing complex pollution sources such as industrial emissions, transport, agricultural burning and rapid urbanisation. Effective governance, transparent data-sharing and cross-border cooperation will therefore be essential to managing pollution that extends beyond city and national borders.

Public engagement also emerged as a critical pillar of successful air quality management. Experts debated that awareness is as important as analysis. When communities understand the health risks posed by polluted air and recognise the benefits of cleaner environments, they are more likely to support environmental policies, adopt cleaner practices and hold institutions accountable. Grassroots participation, from schools and neighbourhood organisations to farmers and local governments, can help ensure that technological solutions deliver meaningful improvements in people’s daily lives.

India offers several practical examples of AI supporting community-based action. The SchoolAIR framework, a peer-reviewed Internet of Things (IoT) and AI system, uses affordable sensors in schools to continuously monitor indoor carbon dioxide and particulate matter. Real-time alerts enable school administrators to improve classroom ventilation and adjust outdoor activities, helping protect children’s health during periods of poor air quality.

Similarly, the Centre for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP) has deployed networks of low-cost air-quality sensors across Punjab to better understand pollution patterns, including those associated with seasonal crop burning. The initiative demonstrates how locally generated data can help authorities develop more targeted and evidence-based responses while supporting wider regional planning.

Experts identified several key AI applications, driving modern air quality management. These include real-time pollution mapping through dense sensor networks; predictive forecasting using machine learning models that combine weather and emissions data; source identification by linking pollution levels with activities such as transportation, agriculture and open burning; and targeted interventions that help agencies implement science-based responses based on air quality indices.

Despite rapid advances, significant challenges remain. Integrating satellite observations, ground-based sensors and climate information is essential to improve forecasting accuracy, while low-cost monitoring equipment requires continuous calibration to maintain reliable data. Scaling successful local initiatives into national and regional programmes is also necessary to address cross-border pollution affecting shared airsheds.

As governments seek more effective ways to tackle deteriorating air quality, the World Bank and its partners believe AI can become a valuable catalyst for cleaner, healthier and more resilient communities. But lasting progress, participants concluded, will depend not only on smarter technologies, but also on stronger institutions, sustained political leadership, international collaboration and active citizen participation that ensures clean air becomes a shared public priority rather than solely a technological ambition.