Air pollution is often invisible, but its impacts are deeply personal.
In 2023, exposure to air pollution worldwide resulted in an estimated 7.9 million deaths, and millions of healthy years of life lost.
It affects how we breathe, how we live, how we feel, our ability to earn a living, and how we imagine the future.
Every Breath Has a Story is a global call for powerful photographs and personal reflections that reveal the human reality of air pollution: its sources, its consequences, and the hope found in action and cleaner air solutions.
We are especially proud to launch the first chapter of this campaign at the Africa Clean Air Forum 2026, in Pretoria, spotlighting stories and images from across Africa.
👉Selection works
Selected works will also be featured globally for the International Day of Clean Air for blue skies on 7 September 2026, together with the State of Global Air.
Whether you are a professional photographer, student, activist, journalist, or someone who captured a meaningful moment on your phone, we want to see the world through your eyes.
- What to look for :
Submissions will be welcome that capture one or more of the following:
- Air Pollution Sources: Traffic, smoke, waste burning, cooking fuels, generators, industry, dust, agriculture, open burning, or other unique sources.
- Human Experience: How polluted air affects daily life, movement, work, family life, schools, and wellbeing.
- Health Impacts: Children, elders, vulnerable communities, hospitals, respiratory challenges (e.g., use of inhalers).
- Environment & Landscapes: Haze, reduced visibility, urban congestion, damaged ecosystems.
- Solutions & Hope: Clean transport, renewable energy, cleaner cooking, greener streets, community action, policy progress.
- Emotion & Resilience: Strength, frustration, grief, determination, joy, hope.
- File format: JPG or PNG
- Minimum size: 800 x 800 pixels
- High-resolution preferred
- Maximum 5 images per person
- Original work only
- Basic edits permitted
- Selected entries will be featured in a clean air campaign during the Clean Air Day (September 7).
- Selected entries will also be featured in global reports on air quality published by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) and State of Global Air (SoGA).
- Selected entries from Africa will be featured in a photo exhibition in Pretoria, South Africa in July 2026.
- All selected contributors will receive full credit.
- Education:
