All Things Urban

Date and Time: 8th September 2022 (Thursday), 11:00 AM CET

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.

This panel discussion aims to bring 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.

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

This Dialogues 4 Action webinar is aimed at practitioners, policy makers, government officials, researchers and advocates for better cities for children and youth.

The Global Alliance - Cities4Children was established to tackle the huge challenges and numerous issues faced by children living in urban areas, especially the most marginalized children. We believe that together we will achieve greater collective impact and influence, we will avoid replication and siloed work, we will be able to encourage country and city level collaboration and will have a louder voice with joint advocacy and communications geared to change the narrative on urban areas that are fit for children.