Cyclists on shared bikes wait at a traffic light with the iconic CCTV Headquarters building rising in the background on November 14, 2025, in Beijing, China. Bike-sharing services remain a widely used mode of short-distance transportation in the Beijing Central Business District, connecting commuters to offices, retail areas, and public transit networks. Photo Credit: Cheng Xin/Getty Images
Environment The WorldCities Prove a Cleaner Future Is Possible
The United Kingdom, the United States, and China are among the countries where major cities have cut air pollution by more than 20% since 2010, improving public health and urban living conditions.
“This report shows that cities can achieve what was once thought impossible: cutting toxic air pollution by 20–45% in a little over a decade,” said Cecilia Vaca Jones, executive director of Breathe Cities.
Across 19 global cities, fine particulate pollution fell by as much as 45% in Beijing and Warsaw, while nitrogen dioxide dropped by more than 40% in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Measures such as expanded cycle lanes, electric-vehicle adoption, and restrictions on high-emission transport have driven these gains, with San Francisco achieving reductions in both major pollutants. The findings show that targeted urban policies can deliver substantial improvements within 15 years, offering a scalable model for reducing pollution-related illness worldwide.
