FIRE Project Ignites Africa’s Transition to PFAS-Free Firefighting Foams
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) have joined forces to launch an ambitious environmental and safety drive — the Fortifying Infrastructure for Responsible Extinguishment (FIRE) project. Worth $82.5 million, the initiative aims to phase out toxic fluorinated firefighting foams from major African airports and replace them with safer, fluorine-free alternatives.
The project is backed by a $10 million grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and an additional $72.5 million in co-financing from partners. Targeted airports in Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa will lead the way in eliminating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) — known as “forever chemicals” for their resistance to breaking down in the environment and their serious health risks.
The Urgent Threat
PFAS have long been prized for their effectiveness in extinguishing fuel fires, making them a standard in aviation safety. However, studies have linked them to cancers, liver damage, immune system disruption, and other severe health conditions. Their chemical resilience means they persist in soil, water, and the human body for decades.
The FIRE project’s mission is twofold: remove these harmful foams without compromising safety. Airports will continue to meet the strictest emergency response standards while safely disposing of 4,500 tonnes of PFAS-contaminated material and 130 tonnes of PFAS-based foam concentrate.
Driving Change Through Industry Collaboration
Anil Sookdeo, Senior Chemicals Specialist at the GEF, sees FIRE as a model for sector-specific transformation: “The FIRE project shows how sector-focused action can drive the elimination of hazardous chemicals across value chains. The GEF is proud to support this effort, which we hope will inspire both participating countries and the wider aviation sector to transition to PFAS-free firefighting foams.”
Sheila Aggarwal-Khan, Director of UNEP’s Industry and Economy Division, stresses that the transition to safer materials doesn’t mean sacrificing operational efficiency: “It supports a practical transition to safer, accessible, and affordable alternatives, showing that environmental and health protection can go hand in hand with business and operational viability.”
Local Action with Global Implications
For Kenya, the move signals a national commitment to safeguarding its people and environment. Dr Mohamud Gedi, CEO and Managing Director of Kenya’s Airport Authority, remarked: “This project marks a significant step forward in Kenya’s commitment to protecting public health and the environment. By phasing out harmful PFAS chemicals from firefighting foams, we are safeguarding our communities and contributing to a cleaner, safer future for all.”
ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar echoed this sentiment: “The facilitation of access to safe alternatives to PFAS foams will be a very significant step for the recipient countries.”
Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, underlined the urgency: “PFAS is an invisible pollution time bomb that demands urgent, globally coordinated action before it is too late… Initiatives like FIRE demonstrate how the Convention fosters multilateral cooperation, drives innovation, and transforms practices — ultimately contributing to a cleaner environment and a healthier planet and people.”
Part of a Bigger Picture
The FIRE project is one component of a wider UNEP-GEF programme aimed at tackling Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) on a global scale. Through these initiatives, UNEP provides leadership and fosters partnerships to protect the environment without compromising future generations’ needs.
The GEF, with over three decades of environmental funding, has channelled more than $26 billion in grants and leveraged $153 billion for projects addressing the world’s most pressing ecological challenges. Its role in FIRE underscores the growing global consensus that environmental safety must integrate into all sectors — aviation included.
For construction and airport infrastructure planners, the shift away from PFAS means integrating new firefighting systems into facility design from the outset.
For investors, the FIRE project signals tightening global regulations on PFAS use, offering opportunities to back innovations aligned with environmental compliance.
For policy-makers, it provides a scalable model for eliminating hazardous substances across other industries and regions.
Building a Safer Future Together
The FIRE project isn’t just an environmental clean-up — it’s a proof of concept that high-stakes sectors like aviation can rapidly and effectively transition to safer, sustainable alternatives without sacrificing performance.
As operations roll out across Africa’s busiest airports, the eyes of the world will be watching, ready to replicate this model in other regions.
