“We have the right to breathe clean air” – Mobilising communities in the fight for good air quality

In the XXI century, grassroots initiatives have sprouted in many Polish cities. One reason for initiating these movements was the country’s severe air quality situation. The fight against smog has united residents who have asserted their right to breathe clean air and advocated for the protection of vulnerable social groups. This research aims to capture how grassroots initiatives contribute to air quality improvement and impact local government decision-making. Four urban areas, including Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław and the Tricity, were selected for the study. Data collection methods involve interviews with activists, eco-managers, and city representatives, along with local media discourse analysis. The results reveal that smog alerts have brought about substantial changes in both air quality and urban policies. The process by which smog alerts evolved aligns with the theory of change and comprises activities performed to raise awareness, help inhabitants to get funding for replacing smoke-producing boilers, and introduce corresponding legal regulations. Our study presents environmental air justice from a geographical perspective. Research also shows environmental injustice, as cities that secure stricter local regulations benefit from cleaner air while others continue to experience prolonged exposure to smog. Furthermore, air quality improvement in Kraków stimulated similar changes in other metropolitan areas. However, various challenges persist, including external factors such as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, and high energy prices. The struggle also includes the ongoing need to raise awareness and challenges in introducing new eco-friendly solutions like clean transport zones.