Energy Foundation China (EFC) is a professional grantmaking charitable organization established in 1999 to support China’s transition toward sustainable energy and environmental governance. The foundation focuses on achieving greenhouse gas emissions neutrality, world-class air quality, energy access, and green economic growth by transforming energy systems and optimizing development paths. Over the years, it has funded thousands of projects across sectors such as power, transportation, cities, and environmental management, working with leading research institutions, NGOs, and government agencies.

One of Energy Foundation China's key areas of focus is improving air quality. Its Air Quality Task Force, launched in 2018, aims to achieve world-class air quality in China by implementing health-based ambient air quality standards and co-control strategies for air and climate pollutants. The task force supports the development of science-based air quality criteria while promoting integrated air quality attainment planning in cities that fail to meet national standards. It also works to reduce pollution from coal and oil consumption by transitioning energy systems toward cleaner alternatives. The overarching goal is to help China meet its triple air quality and climate targets by 2050: an annual PM2.5 concentration below 10 μg/m³, an 8-hour daily maximum ozone concentration below 100 μg/m³, and sustainable economic development aligned with carbon neutrality.

Additionally, Energy Foundation China collaborates with government research institutions to advance climate mitigation policies that simultaneously address air pollution. For instance, it has supported the development of China’s renewable energy strategies under the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025), which aims to increase renewable electricity consumption to 33% by 2025. This shift reduces reliance on coal-fired power plants, a major source of both greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants. EFC also promotes clean transportation solutions, advocating for electrification in public transit systems and improved fuel efficiency standards.