Air for Tomorrow: Why Openness in Air Quality Research and Implementation Matters for Global Equity

Air quality research and monitoring efforts are often hindered by proprietary models and inaccessible data, despite pollution being a critical global health issue. An open approach, built on open data, open methods, and open-source tools, offers a more collaborative, scalable, and equitable solution. Initiatives like OpenAQ, which aggregates global sensor data, and UNICEF's use of open-source machine learning models demonstrate this principle in action. This shift democratizes access to information, builds trust through transparency, and empowers communities and researchers to better address environmental threats.