IMPROVING URBAN AIR QUALITY FOR CHILDREN – A Panel Discussion with Ideas 4 Action
Air pollution is a global health challenge, but what is often not focused upon is the vulnerability of children towards it and the harmful effects it can have on child health and wellbeing. “Air pollution also impacts neurodevelopment and cognitive ability and can trigger asthma, and childhood cancer. Children who have been exposed to high levels of air pollution may be at greater risk for chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease later in life”. Living in cramped, smoke-filled and poorly ventilated homes often located close to busy roads, factories and garbage dumps, urban poor children are the most exposed and thus at the most risk.
Do you want to know more about the causes and effects of air pollution on urban children? Read our publication here
This panel discussion brings attention to sources of air pollution for urban children, its impact on them and look at some tangible solutions which have been developed within cities/communities.
Date and Time
8th September 2022 (Thursday), 11:00 AM CET
Speaker Details
Moderator:
Sarah West: Key Author of ‘Urban air pollution and children in low- and middle-income countries’. She is a Citizen Science Expert and the Centre Director, SEI York
Panellists:
- Loreto Stambuk: Climate Action Expert and Director, Aires Nuevos para la Infancia, Foundation Horizonte Ciudadano
- Khishigjargal Batjantsan: Climate Change and Clean Air Officer, UNICEF Mongolia
- Richard Gevers: Founder and CEO of Open Cities Lab, a civic technology lab with a focus on the development of open data for application to urban challenges operating within cities in Africa.
Objectives
- Awareness on different sources that affect air quality in urban areas
- Initiate wider discussion on impact of air pollution on children in developing regions
- Discuss successful strategies by presenting concrete ideas that can inspire action
Dialogues 4 Action Webinar Series
Cities4Children’s Dialogues 4 Action is a series of open-to-all interactive webinars on practical interventions and strategies that make cities better for children. The dialogues aim to inspire action, add to knowledge and advocate for children’s and young people’s rights in the urban agenda. The webinar series highlights promising initiatives and practices for sustained change.
It is aimed at practitioners, policy makers, government officials, researchers and advocates for better cities for children and youth.
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For more information about Air Pollution and its effects on urban children:
- Cities4Children, 2022. Guide 7 – Page 17. ‘Cities for and with Children and Youth – Ideas to Inspire Action’.
- Cities4Children, 2021. ‘Urban Air Pollution and Children in Low- and Middle- Income Countries’
- Cities4Children, 2021. ‘How air pollution affects children in cities’.