EPIC Project by GD Labs and Research
Breathing Easier: Protecting Children from Air Pollution is a pioneering initiative dedicated to understanding and reducing children’s exposure to air pollution in the Kathmandu Valley. Led by Green Decision Labs and Research (GD Labs) in partnership with Clean Up Nepal, the project installs real-time PM2.5 air quality sensors in 39 strategically selected schools, creating one of the most comprehensive school-based air monitoring networks in Nepal.
The project runs for 12 months and uses low-cost outdoor sensors that measure PM2.5 at one-minute intervals. These data help map pollution variations, identify hotspots, and support evidence-based action. Beyond monitoring, the initiative includes air pollution awareness sessions and health assessments of students across all participating schools.
By comparing health outcomes between schools in high- and low-pollution areas, the project generates critical evidence on how air pollution affects children’s respiratory health.
Supported by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) through the EPIC–Air Quality Fund, this project aims to drive long-term national impact. The data and findings will feed directly into policy advocacy, strengthening Nepal’s air quality standards, promoting child-centered environmental policies, and integrating air pollution education into school programs nationwide.
Together, these efforts help build a future where every child in Nepal breathes cleaner air and grows up in a healthier learning environment.
About GD Labs and Research
Green Decision Labs and Research (GD Labs) is an environmental innovation and research organization dedicated to improving urban sustainability through data-driven solutions. It combines science, technology, and community engagement to address some of Nepal’s most pressing environmental challenges, including air quality, climate resilience, sustainable mobility, and urban heat.
GD Labs operates as a venture-building organization, establishing and partnering with innovative green and social enterprises to create self-sustaining solutions that produce lasting impact in Nepal’s cities. Its work emphasizes transparency, open data, and practical decision-support tools for governments, schools, and communities.
The organization’s portfolio spans urban mobility platforms, environmental data systems, climate-risk assessment, waste management, and livelihood-oriented initiatives, transforming complex environmental challenges into practical, actionable insights for communities and decision-makers.
Among its ventures is Greenway, a sustainable mobility initiative that promotes cycling through a mobile app and incentive system to reduce carbon emissions and urban congestion. Another venture, EG Labs, provides low-cost environmental monitoring solutions, laboratory services, and data platforms to support evidence-based environmental decision-making. Zero focuses on biodegradable bag alternatives to advance circular economy solutions.
Partners Making this Project Possible
EPIC – University of Chicago
The Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) produces data-driven research that advances society’s understanding of the global energy challenge and translates research insights into real-world impacts through strategic outreach and training for the next generation of global energy leaders.
EPIC serves as an interdisciplinary hub for energy and environmental research across the University of Chicago. By combining the insights of economists, policy analysts, and business experts with the technical expertise of engineers and scientists, EPIC’s faculty affiliates deliver robust, cross-cutting research that informs the global energy and climate policy debate.
The EPIC Air Quality Fund supports initiatives that expand access to accurate air quality data in regions with limited monitoring capacity. Funded projects install PM2.5 sensors, share real-time air quality data openly, and use evidence-based findings to drive national-level policy improvements.
By making pollution data accessible and actionable, the Fund empowers communities, schools, and governments to protect public health and advocate for stronger air quality standards worldwide.
CleanUp Nepal
Clean Up Nepal (also known as Swachha Safa Nepal) is a Nepalese non-governmental, non-profit organization established in 2014 with a mission to promote clean spaces, clean air, clean water, and knowledgeable communities that lead healthy and responsible lifestyles.
The organization works across multiple environmental and social sectors, including solid waste management, climate action and justice, circular economy, environmental education, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), supporting sustainable and community-driven change throughout Nepal.
Clean Up Nepal emphasizes community engagement, awareness-raising, and evidence-based advocacy. It partners with schools, local governments, and civil society to improve waste management systems, promote recycling and upcycling practices, and build local capacity for effective environmental governance.
The organization also implements school-focused programs such as Zero Waste at Schools, which educates students and teachers on sustainable waste practices. In addition, Clean Up Nepal developed the Safa Nepal app, an award-winning open-data waste management platform that enables local governments and citizens to monitor, report, and respond to waste issues.
This holistic approach spanning clean-up campaigns, policy support, education, and digital innovation positions Clean Up Nepal as a key partner in advancing environmental sustainability and public health in communities across Nepal.