Clean Air Fund’s programme on super pollutants and health drives research, policy and advocacy efforts to accelerate action where it is most needed. Research funded under this programme should incorporate a combined focus on both health and climate outcomes.
Supported by Wellcome Trust, our programme aims to close the evidence gaps on the health and climate impacts of super pollutants, focusing on black carbon and tropospheric ozone.
Alongside our usual grant making, we run open calls for proposals for research on the health and climate impacts of super pollutants as part of this programme.
Please note: Clean Air Fund does not respond to unsolicited applications for funding. Find out more about our grant making process and principles.
Eligibility criteria
The following criteria apply to all research funding opportunities under this programme. There may be additional eligibility criteria for individual funding opportunities. Please refer to the individual funding opportunity for more information.
Which geographic locations are we looking for?
We are open to receiving proposals from any region, but we are particularly keen to support research consortia and studies in underrepresented regions (e.g. West Africa and Southeast Asia) and led by low- and middle-income countries.
Note: We will not fund activities in mainland China – see here for further details.
The eligible geographical location will be further determined by each funding opportunity. Please refer to the individual funding opportunity for details.
What kind of organisations are eligible?
Research institutes, higher education institutions, not-for-profit or non-governmental research organisations are all encouraged to submit proposals.
We are particularly looking to work with organisations from a range of different contexts to bring robust research approaches to address specific questions spanning the impacts of super pollutants on health and climate, and sectoral solutions for emissions reductions.
Applicants should be able to demonstrate a track record of research in climate change mitigation and health, as well as experience of using research to influence policy or practice.
Which organisations won’t we fund?
We will not accept applications from or fund researchers who:
- Have a research grant from the fossil fuel or tobacco industries
- Are applying for funding from the fossil fuel or tobacco industries
- Are employed on a research grant from the fossil fuel or tobacco industries
The above includes manufacturers and distributors of all fossil fuels, e-cigarettes and vaping products. Please refer to Wellcome Trust’s policy on researchers funded by the tobacco industry for further details.
Which studies won’t we fund?
We are not able to fund mechanistic or toxicology studies, randomised controlled trials or the actual deployment of technologies or solutions.
Focus on climate and health co-benefits
Research funded under this programme should produce evidence with a combined focus on driving positive health and climate outcomes.
What does our commitment to equity mean for research funding?
At Clean Air Fund, we are committed to addressing the unequal impacts of air pollution through our funding and partnerships. We believe that a more equitable, diverse and inclusive clean air movement is essential to achieving lasting impact.
Through our research programme on super pollutants and health, we aim to deepen our engagement with communities most burdened by air pollution, recognising that their health and climate impacts disproportionately affect low income and vulnerable populations. Through this programme, we are not only helping to fill critical scientific gaps, but also aiming to support local voices and ensure that evidence generated is responsive to the realities of affected communities.
In particular, we aim to:
- Prioritise impact in communities and regions most burdened by pollution and least served by existing policies
- Ensure effective engagement and collaboration with global south researchers, including by supporting global south-led research consortia
- Incorporate participatory approaches to reflect lived experiences and local knowledge in research and policy design
All funding applications under this programme will be assessed on the extent to which equity concerns are integrated as part of their design.
Open calls for research funding
Call for Expressions of Interest: Research on the health and climate benefits of black carbon exposure reduction interventions in cold-climate settings
We are seeking expressions of interest for research studies to evaluate real-world reductions in black carbon emissions and the associated health and climate impacts from the introduction of cleaner technologies and interventions in cryosphere (cold-climate) settings in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We are seeking studies assessing interventions in space heating and industry. These studies should assess the performance of black carbon-reducing interventions in terms of relative emissions reductions under actual use conditions, evaluate the associated health and climate benefits and, where possible, seek to understand community acceptance with a view to ensuring uptake and long-term sustainability.
Submission Portal Opens: 18 September 2026
Deadline: 23 October 2026, 18:00 BST
FAQs
We will post FAQs related to individual funding opportunities here.
Explore our work on super pollutants further
Research funded through this programme builds on our broader work to accelerate action on super pollutants:
- Black carbon: Learn about our work to strengthen evidence, support policy and accelerate action on our black carbon hub.
- Tropospheric ozone: Check out our strategic roadmap to tackle this super pollutant by utilising existing policies, platforms and frameworks.
- Progress so far: We’ve built momentum around super pollutants in global forums, including supporting nine countries to announce plans to cut black carbon emissions at COP30.
