# Clean Air Fund secures £10m from Wellcome to tackle black carbon

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2026/06/23/clean-air-fund-secures-10m-from-wellcome-to-tackle-black-carbon/
- Published: 2026-06-23T16:57:57+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**The Clean Air Fund has launched a multi-million-pound programme to reduce emissions
of black carbon, backed by £10 million in funding from Wellcome.**

The programme will drive research, policy and advocacy efforts to accelerate action
on the super pollutant, which the charity describes as one of the most significant
but overlooked threats to both human health and the climate.

Also known as soot, [black carbon](https://www.cleanairfund.org/black-carbon-hub/about-black-carbon/black-carbon/)
contributes to poor air quality and is linked to lung disease, heart disease and
premature deaths. Emerging evidence also points to an increased risk of cancer and
dementia, with impacts falling disproportionately on the most marginalised communities
globally.

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## Super pollutants

![Children hide from the smoke in a rural area in the city of Senador Guiommard 
in the state of Acre. During the months of August, September, and October, the Amazon
region historically suffers from urban and forest fires, filling the skies with 
smoke. Acre State, Brazil. August 11 2025.](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/
2026/06/black-carbon-in-brazil-photo-Victor-Moriyama-climate-visuals.jpg)

_Children hide from the smoke in a rural area in the city of Senador Guiommard in
the state of Acre. During the months of August, September, and October, the Amazon
region historically suffers from urban and forest fires, filling the skies with 
smoke. Acre State, Brazil. August 11 2025. Photo: Victor Moriyama / Climate Visuals.
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0_

Alongside methane and tropospheric ozone, black carbon is one of a group of ‘super
pollutants’ responsible for half of global warming to date. It accelerates the melting
of glaciers and polar icecaps and disrupts regional weather systems including monsoons.

Because black carbon only remains in the atmosphere for a short time, reducing it
is seen as an “emergency brake” on climate change, one capable of delivering “rapid
benefits” for both health and the environment. Analysis suggests a [70% reduction in black carbon emissions is technically feasible by 2030](https://www.ccacoalition.org/resources/opportunities-15c-consistent-black-carbon-mitigation)
relative to 2010 levels.

The programme will focus on closing critical evidence gaps around black carbon’s
health and climate impacts, with the aim of enabling more effective, data-driven
policy and regulation. Clean Air Fund says it will prioritise communities most burdened
by air pollution and least served by existing policies.

**Jane Burston**, CEO of Clean Air Fund, said:

> “Reducing black carbon, alongside other super pollutants, is the fastest, most
> effective way to slow climate change, and reap huge benefits for people’s health.
> Thanks to Wellcome, this programme will provide the evidence for action where 
> it’s most needed, in places where the impacts of air pollution are hitting hardest.”

**Rachel Huxley**, Head of Mitigation at Wellcome, added:

> “Black carbon is a major but often overlooked driver of both ill health and climate
> change. This programme will help turn evidence into action, delivering rapid benefits
> where they are needed most.”

[Clean Air Fund](https://www.cleanairfund.org/black-carbon-hub/) describes the investment
as one of the first major philanthropic efforts to focus on the combined health 
and climate benefits of tackling black carbon.

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