Environment APIs
Environmental data and weather
This directory lists 15 environment APIs. 2 of them require no API key and support CORS, so you can call them directly from browser JavaScript with no backend and no sign-up. Every entry shows whether it needs authentication, serves over HTTPS and allows cross-origin requests, so you can pick one that fits your stack before you read a single doc page.
Best Environment and Weather APIs for Developers
An environment API allows developers to integrate weather forecasts, air quality data, climate records, and natural disaster alerts into their applications. These APIs serve outdoor apps, agricultural tools, energy management systems, and smart city platforms.
UK Carbon Intensity and the NESO Data Portal stand out for Great Britain's grid, both free, keyless and CORS enabled. OpenAQ is the best general air quality source, aggregating government monitors worldwide behind a free key, while IQAir adds weather but caps its free tier at city level AQI for the US and China. For emissions accounting, Climatiq and Carbon Interface convert activity data into CO2e estimates, and Cloverly goes further by selling a matching offset in the same call.
The main pitfall here is churn: projects like PVWatts and the original CO2 Offset API have gone dark or been folded into larger platforms, so confirm a domain still resolves first. Regional feeds like Luchtmeetnet suit apps needing just one country.
What to check before you pick one
- Forecast horizon: Different APIs offer 3-day, 7-day, or 14-day forecasts; choose based on your application's needs.
- Data resolution: Hyperlocal weather APIs provide grid-level data while global APIs offer city-level resolution.
- Historical access: Climate analysis and backtesting require APIs with deep historical weather archives.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are environment and weather APIs?
Environment APIs provide programmatic access to weather forecasts, historical climate data, air quality indices, natural disaster alerts, and environmental monitoring data from meteorological services and satellites.
Is OpenWeatherMap API free?
OpenWeatherMap offers a free tier with up to 60 API calls per minute covering current weather, 5-day forecasts, and basic historical data. Hourly forecasts and extended history require paid plans.
How do I get air quality data through an API?
APIs like OpenWeatherMap Air Pollution API and AirVisual provide AQI (Air Quality Index) data by coordinates or city name, including concentrations of CO, NO2, PM2.5, and other pollutants.