News

Londoners can access real-time air pollution data through new Breathe London website, launched today

Vodafone is leading a new consortium of partners to deliver the next phase of the Mayor of London’s pioneering Breathe London programme, delivering an advanced and comprehensive network of monitors to measure air quality across the capital and encourage action to tackle air pollution.

Vodafone will collaborate with experts from Global Action Plan, Airly, Ricardo, Scotswolds Ltd, Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants (CERC) and the University of Cambridge to coordinate all 136 existing air quality sensor sites across the capital and engage key communities and organisations such as schools, NHS Trusts and Local Authorities to make accurate air quality data available to everyone in London, whilst supporting communities to turn data insights into action in the fight against air pollution.

The four-year renewal of this initiative, which first launched in 2020, builds on London’s existing monitoring network and provides a new approach to data quality, by extracting high-resolution data from the air quality sensors and processing it, then comparing and aligning the insights with standard reference monitors to ensure its accuracy and reliability. This will give Londoners access to more robust high-resolution data that can drive action and change.

The new consortium plans to improve and develop the existing program, with new commitments to sharing and understanding the data. The collected information can be viewed on a new Breathe London website, enabling Londoners to see the real-time, hyperlocal air quality data in their area, with resources available to support people to take action on air pollution in their community.  

Vodafone will use its Global IoT connectivity to enhance efficiency and reach of Breathe London. By utilising its network infrastructure, which already spans the capital, Vodafone will also identify additional sensor locations, with local infrastructure partners, Ontix and SRL,  and be able to provide more local communities with pollution data. Vodafone has already implemented a successful pilot in Glasgow City Centre to monitor air quality using sensors on mobile base station masts. This initiative was a UK and European first and demonstrates how high-resolution air quality data can be scaled by utilising existing network infrastructure. 

Along with Vodafone’s network, the consortium’s expert team, comprised of Scotswolds, Airly, CERC, University of Cambridge, and Ricardo, has designed and operated several other large-scale sensor networks projects and developed advanced calibration and quality assurance techniques. Airly’s sensors deliver hyper-local and continuous data and alongside the University of Cambridge, Ricardo, Scotswolds and CERC, the consortium will ensure alignment with best practices for the sensor network deployment and the long-term accuracy and reliability of the data produced by the air quality network. 

Global Action Plan, the environmental charity behind the UK's largest public campaign on air pollution, Clean Air Day, will spearhead an innovative engagement programme as part of the consortium. The programme will provide resources and support to enable hospitals, schools, and local authorities to use air pollution data to take essential action for clean air.

The consortium is also collaborating with Clean Air Fund and Bloomberg Philanthropies  to extend the footprint of the network of air quality monitors and scale the engagement activities to reach even more Londoners. 

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: “I am delighted that Vodafone will deliver the next stage of my pioneering Breathe London programme by leading a consortium of partners and utilising their technical expertise and advanced connectivity. Reducing London’s air pollution is one of my top priorities and this advanced monitoring network will provide invaluable data to help organisations across the capital take action on air quality and protect public health."

Nicki Lyons, Chief Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Officer, VodafoneThree, said: "We’re thrilled to lead this consortium, bringing together our combined expertise to deliver the next stage of the Breathe London project. With high-levels of air pollution in the capital, it is crucial we can give Londoners access to real-time, hyperlocal air quality data in their area and help them make better informed decisions about their health and well-being. At VodafoneThree, we are committed to putting the communities we serve and the environment they live in first and we will continue to explore what else might be possible in both London and other UK cities in the future."

Sonja Graham, Global Action Plan CEO said: “Clean air is crucial for good health. Air pollution is largely invisible, cutting Londoners’ lives short through serious health conditions like lung and heart disease, dementia, and strokes.  Breathe London will help make air quality visible, giving data directly to schools, hospitals and communities and helping them take action and call for clean air, focusing on the places where people most need it.”