The Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) is pleased to share that Christa Hasenkopf, director of the EPIC Clean Air Program, has been appointed as an inaugural Senior Fellow at the Clean Air Fund, a global philanthropic organisation devoted to tackling air pollution. Hasenkopf will serve alongside global public health specialist in environmental health and climate change María Neira.
Neira served for more than 20 years as Director of the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health at the World Health Organization (WHO), where she provided strategic leadership on the health dimensions of climate change, with a strong focus on air pollution. The two internationally renowned leaders will partner with the Clean Air Fund to make the case for critical interventions to tackle air pollution within global decision-making forums.
“Clean air is one of the highest return investments in global health and economic growth, yet it remains dramatically underfunded,” Hasenkopf says. “Through this fellowship with Clean Air Fund, I look forward to identifying and elevating high impact opportunities that philanthropy is currently overlooking.”
As Senior Fellows, Hasenkopf and Neira will provide strategic counsel on Clean Air Fund’s initiatives and evolving priorities. The fellows will also engage in high-level meetings and global events with decision-makers on pollution and health-related issues. Their extensive experience, expertise and networks will be invaluable to driving progress towards the Clean Air Fund’s goal of creating a world where everyone breathes clean air.
“I am thrilled to welcome María and Christa as our inaugural Senior Fellows. Their leadership at the intersection of health, climate and evidence has shaped global understanding of air pollution as one of the greatest health threats in the world. By partnering with them, we’re strengthening our ability to build momentum behind proven solutions and accelerate progress towards securing clean air for all,” says Jane Burston, the CEO of the Clean Air Fund.
Hasenkopf is the inaugural director of the Clean Air Program at EPIC, where she founded the EPIC Air Quality Fund, focusing on unlocking policy impact in low- and middle-income countries through better access to air quality data. Prior to working at EPIC, Hasenkopf co-founded OpenAQ, the tech nonprofit behind the world’s largest open air quality data platform.
Hasenkopf serves on the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council for Clean Air and the Our Common Air Commission. She was also the first Chief Air Pollution Advisor to the Medical Director at the US State Department when it first expanded air quality monitoring to diplomatic facilities worldwide.