How to enhance quality of air in Nairobi City

A man who scavenges recyclable materials for a living, left, walks past Marabou storks feeding on a mountain of garage amidst smoke from burning trash at Dandora, the largest garbage dump in the capital Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021. [AP Photo]

The recent Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi served as a stark reminder of the critical need for improved air quality governance. While the summit aimed to address pressing climate issues, it inadvertently drew attention to the complex challenges surrounding air quality in Nairobi.

The conference's impact on our daily lives, particularly the excruciating traffic jams on major city roads, underscores the urgency of this matter. The extensive idling of vehicles in traffic led to heightened emissions of greenhouse gases and harmful pollutants, exacerbating already precarious state of air quality. It is a poignant reminder that pursuit of sustainable climate goals cannot be divorced from concerns of air quality and public health.