HondurasHealth · Fires
Aire Limpio Honduras is a youth-led initiative that strengthens adaptation to climate change through a community air quality monitoring network. With more than 50 low-cost monitors installed in the country, it generates open data on PM2.5 to identify risks associated with forest fires and burning, raise awareness among communities and strengthen their response capacity to protect health.
Aire Limpio Honduras is a youth-led initiative that strengthens adaptation to climate change through a community air quality monitoring network. With more than 50 low-cost monitors installed in the country, it generates open data on PM2.5 to identify risks associated with forest fires and burning, raise awareness among communities and strengthen their response capacity to protect health.
Honduras is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change in the region: high exposure to extreme events and adaptive capacity limited by poverty, inequality and institutional weakness. In air quality, this means population exposed to wildfire smoke, especially children, older people and people with respiratory diseases, and little local monitoring to prevent and respond.
Expand air quality monitoring in Honduras and generate accessible information so that communities can take protective measures during smoke episodes due to forest fires and burning, in addition to strengthening environmental education and using scientific evidence to promote public health protection policies.
Installation of PM2.5 particle monitors in communities and educational centers; generation and dissemination of open data; development of digital tools to consult air quality; environmental training and education; and youth participation to transform the data generated into citizen awareness and public advocacy. The platform shows the air quality in certain areas in real time, with smileys indicating whether it is good, average or bad, and recommends protective actions: reduce physical activity or, if it is bad, stay indoors or wear a mask.
Urban and rural communities in Honduras, with emphasis on schools and populations exposed to air pollution. Currently the network exceeds 50 monitors installed in more than 40 communities.
Young Hondurans actively participate in the implementation of the project, installation and management of monitors, environmental education, community mobilization and use of data to promote public air quality policies.
The initiative installed more than 50 air quality monitors in more than 40 communities in Honduras, significantly expanding the availability of local air pollution data so communities can adapt to smoke from the fires. It also developed digital tools to facilitate public access to information and strengthened youth participation in climate action.
María José Martínez, Project Coordinator (info@sustentahonduras.org), Sustenta Honduras. Ricardo Pineda, Director (ricardo@sustentahonduras.org). Web: https://airelimpio.sustentahonduras.org/
Mixed
In Honduras, forest fires and associated air pollution are strongly linked to human activities. Some fires are intentionally set to clear land or generate economic benefits, while others originate from practices such as burning waste and agricultural activities and can get out of control. In dry periods, these conditions favor the spread of fire and deteriorate air quality.
Climate Change Law, National Climate Change Strategy, National Adaptation Plan (2025) and First Adaptation Communication (SERNA, 2024). The priorities are water storage, mangrove and wetland restoration, and ecosystem protection. The main limitation is the gap between planning and execution: insufficient financing, weak institutions and discontinuity between political cycles.
In the first phase it counted on the French Embassy and, in the second, already concluded, with the EPIC Air Quality Fund of the University of Chicago. These contributions allowed the monitors to be imported and installed in public educational centers in more than 40 communities, which house the equipment and participate in environmental education activities.
The implementation had financial support from the French Embassy and the EPIC fund, which facilitated the import of the monitors and covered installation logistics costs. However, one of the main challenges has been guaranteeing internet connectivity and the continuous supply of electrical power that the sensors require, especially in rural communities with limited infrastructure. These conditions imply adapting the facilities and seeking solutions to ensure the continuity of monitoring and data availability.
When installed in public educational centers, the monitors make it possible to raise girls and boys' awareness about the risks of air pollution. The platform shows them the air quality in their school in real time and recommends how to protect themselves.
Aire Limpio Honduras is the largest air quality monitoring network in Central America and offers a replicable model in countries with a high incidence of smoke from forest fires and burning. Its implementation requires financing, access to internet and electricity, coordination with schools and communities, and local training for the maintenance of the sensors.
The measure requires monitoring since air quality monitors have to be connected to an internet network to store information. The maintenance cost is low, the investment falls on the initial purchase and installation step.
Aire Limpio Honduras (data platform): https://airelimpio.sustentahonduras.org/