TL;DR

Clarity Movement was founded in 2014; this year, 2024, marked ten years of our work empowering communities, governments, and industries to combat air pollution. Founded on the belief that clean air is a fundamental human right, we’ve grown from developing OPC sensor technology to deploying air quality sensors in more than 10,000 unique locations across 85+ countries. This blog reflects on our journey, highlights our milestones and partnerships, and outlines our vision for the future. Watch our anniversary video below and explore the impact we’ve made together — thank you to everyone who’s joined our global movement for cleaner air and contributed to our journey so far!

From an idea to a global movement for cleaner air

A decade ago, David Lu stepped onto the University of California, Berkeley campus and was struck by the vivid colors of his surroundings. It wasn’t just the California sunshine — he realized it was the absence of the ever-present haze he had grown up with in China. 

Growing up in a rapidly developing city, smog-filled skies had seemed like a fact of life; clean air seemed almost unimaginable. At Berkeley, the contrast was striking, and it sparked an ambitious vision: to help everyone, everywhere, experience clean air. This moment marked the genesis of Clarity Movement, born from a simple yet powerful belief: “Clean air is a fundamental human right.”

That vision led to the founding of Clarity Movement Co. Driven by his passion for the environment and backed by the UC Berkeley startup ecosystem, David co-founded Clarity — along with CTO Paolo Micalizzi, VP of Hardware Baljot Singh, COO Meiling Gao, and others — with the mission to empower communities worldwide to combat air pollution. A small, passionate team came together with one mission: to empower the world to reduce air pollution. 

Clarity CEO David Lu, pictured in Clarity’s first office near the UC Berkeley campus, where the first versions of Clarity’s Node-S air quality sensor were developed. 

From humble beginnings to global impact, Clarity is now celebrating a decade of pioneering air quality measurement technology. Today, Clarity is a leader in the field of air quality monitoring, providing air quality measurement equipment and other tools that empower governments, schools, researchers, and businesses to tackle air pollution head-on.

Empowering the world to reduce air pollution: Clarity’s impact so far

Air pollution is one of the most significant environmental health risks of our time. It contributes to 7 million premature deaths annually, disproportionately affecting urban areas, where industrial activity, vehicles, and population density magnify the problem. The global air pollution crisis is also intimately tied to the climate crisis. 

At Clarity, we believe that local data is key to addressing this global crisis. Over the past 10 years, our air quality sampling equipment has been at the forefront of providing accurate, actionable data. Over the past 10 years, we have:

  • 📈 Recorded over 500 million air quality measurements.
  • 📍 Supported 10,000+ deployments worldwide, from cities to rural areas.
  • 🏙️ Provided air quality data in 250+ cities.
  • 🌍 Deployed solutions in 85+ countries.

Our mission is simple: empower governments and communities with the tools they need to reduce air pollution, protect public health, and create a sustainable future. 

Our partners in the fight against air pollution

Clarity air pollution sensors have been installed across different environments — schools, cities, and industrial sites — in more than 85 countries around the world to support the air quality initiatives of our partners.

Clarity’s mission goes beyond providing accurate air quality data — it’s about empowering people to take meaningful action with that data. From local governments implementing clean air policies to nonprofits advocating for environmental justice, our partners are driving change. They are the ones transforming air quality data into action, using it to improve public health, protect vulnerable populations, and fight for a cleaner future.

Clarity’s success is rooted in partnerships that turn data into action. Over the years, we’ve been privileged to collaborate with organizations that exemplify what’s possible when communities come together to address air pollution. These partnerships demonstrate the power of reliable, hyperlocal air quality data to inspire policy changes, raise awareness, and guide long-term strategies for cleaner air. Here are just a few examples of how our customers have used our air quality sensors to make a difference:

  • LA Unified School District (USA): In partnership with the Coalition for Clean Air, we launched the nation’s largest school-based monitoring network. Over 200 outdoor air quality sensors provide real-time data to protect students.
  • Breathe London (UK): A network of more than 450 air quality sensors informs city-wide policies to reduce air pollution in underserved areas.
  • RAC Air Health Monitor (Australia): In Perth, Clarity’s air quality data is combined with Ramboll's SHAIR air quality modeling platform to map pollution at a resolution of 200m, helping residents and policymakers make better decisions.
  • Brightline Defense (USA): This Bay Area-based nonprofit uses Clarity Node-S air pollution sensors to empower underserved communities with accurate pollution data, advocating for environmental justice and cleaner air.
  • Almaty and Bishkek Clean Air Initiative (Kazakhstan/Kyrgyzstan): By deploying Clarity’s Node-S sensors, this initiative provides real-time pollution data to address air quality challenges in two major Central Asian cities, empowering local governments and communities to take action.
Mums for Lungs, one of the first Breathe London community groups to receive a Clarity Node-S air quality sensor, is just one example of the many dedicated groups using Clarity air quality measurement equipment to advocate for cleaner air.

We are deeply grateful to our customers and partners for the work they do every day. They are the ones driving real impact — leveraging our tools to reduce emissions, raise awareness, and advocate for cleaner air in their communities. 

As we look to the future, we remain committed to supporting and amplifying the work of those on the frontlines of environmental health and justice. Their efforts inspire us to continue refining our solutions and expanding our reach to support even more communities in tackling air pollution.

Progression of Clarity’s air quality monitoring technology

Over the past decade, Clarity has continuously refined its solutions, evolving to meet the diverse needs of governments, industries, and communities.

Since we were founded in 2014, Clarity has continuously innovated to improve our air quality measurement equipment and provide our customers with the best air quality data possible.

Early beginnings: The development of OPC sensors

Clarity began with the development of Optical Particle Counter (OPC) sensors, designed for precise particulate matter measurement. These sensors became a trusted standard in the industry and were later licensed to Sensirion, allowing us to shift focus to scalable solutions for ambient air monitoring equipment, where we believed the most potential for impact lay. 

Introducing the Node-S: Compact, solar-powered, and cellular-connected

The launch of the Clarity Node-S was a major milestone. This compact, solar-powered air quality monitor offered hyperlocal, real-time data collection with key features like:

  • Compact Design: Easy deployment in urban, industrial, and community settings.
  • Self-Sufficiency: Solar power and cellular connectivity for hassle-free operation.
  • Integrated Monitoring: Simultaneous measurement of key pollutants, including particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2).

The Node-S quickly became the foundation for our air quality Sensing-as-a-Service offering, which provides customers with high-quality air quality data at fixed, predictable costs. 

An early version of our solar-powered, cellular-connected Node-S air quality sensor. 
Clarity CTO Paolo Micalizzi installs an early Node-S on the campus of UC Berkeley, where Clarity was founded and built our first air quality sensors. 

Advancing to the V2 Node-S: Smarter and More Reliable

The second-generation Node-S (V2), launched in 2021 brought:

  • Enhanced precision for particulate and gas air pollutant measurement.
  • Rugged construction for outdoor durability, and a solar shield for improved performance. 
  • Re-engineered for seamless integration with Clarity Add-On Modules that attach to the Node-S in seconds, making it simple to upgrade your air quality monitoring network to measure additional pollutants over time. 
The V2 Node-S was re-engineered to provide superior durability, improved data accuracy, and seamless integration with Add-On Modules. It is the only air quality sensor that is MCERTS-certified when run on solar power. 
The self-sufficiency of the V2 Node-S makes it a great fit for large-scale, city-wide air quality sensor deployments, like Breathe London, pictured.

Today, the Clarity Node is part of a broad air quality measurement ecosystem that includes:

  • The Clarity Dashboard: A cloud-based platform for real-time data analysis and visualization.
  • The Clarity Air Monitoring API:  Our well-documented and religiously maintained API simplifies the integration process, allowing you to seamlessly integrate real-time air quality information into your applications and services.
  • Add-On Services, which provide custom-tailored support above and beyond what is provided by our standard Sensing-a-a-Service offering, helping you overcome resource constraints to achieve your air quality goals efficiently and effectively.
  • Our full suite of commercially available air quality monitoring equipment, including an expanding line-up of Add-On Modules.
Clarity’s full suite of air quality measurement equipment, including the Node-S air pollution sensor, Black Carbon Module, Ozone Module, and Wind & Met Module. New Modules are coming soon! 

Looking ahead: A renewed commitment to our mission

Over the past decade, Clarity has made significant progress in our mission of empowering the world to reduce air pollution. Together with our partners and customers, we’ve achieved milestones that would have seemed unimaginable ten years ago — deploying air quality in more than 10,000 unique locations, providing real-time air quality data in over 85 countries, and making clean air an actionable priority for communities worldwide. 

We are proud of the impact we’ve made, but our mission remains far from complete. As we reflect on our journey, we recognize that there is room to grow. To fulfill our mission, we must continue to innovate and improve. 

Looking ahead, we are focused on advancing our air quality measurement technology to measure a wider range of air pollutants with greater accuracy, reliability, and accessibility. We’re also committed to helping our customers turn their air quality data into meaningful action — whether that means driving policy change, reducing emissions, or protecting vulnerable populations.

Our mission goes beyond building technology — it extends to empowering people with the tools, data, and knowledge needed to fight for clean air and climate action. We’re honored to have such a talented, passionate team working toward this shared goal.

In light of anticipated changes to environmental policy over the next several years, our mission has become even more urgent. The expected wave of environmental deregulation could lead to increased pollution levels across the United States and have ripple effects throughout the world. Without robust federal oversight, local municipalities, states, and communities will bear the burden of protecting public health and the environment. This challenging period is an opportunity for Clarity to step up and deliver impact where it’s needed most.

We are asking ourselves key questions:

  • How can we help establish and maintain air pollution monitoring networks with reduced government funding?
  • How can we make our measurements even more defensible and reliable in the absence of strong regulatory frameworks?
  • How can we better bridge the gap between data collection and meaningful action, helping customers drive real-world changes and reduce emissions?

As we celebrate our 10-year anniversary, we know this is just the beginning. We’ve only scratched the surface of what’s possible, and we are excited about the improvements to our solutions that lie ahead. With the anticipated challenges of the coming years, we are more determined than ever to push the boundaries of what air quality monitoring can achieve.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Together, we will continue to make a lasting impact on the global air pollution crisis — ensuring that clean air is not just a goal, but a reality for everyone.