Let’s just ask them. Perspectives on urban dwelling and air quality: a cross-sectional survey of 3,222 children, young people and parents
Authors: Juel Rachel , Sharpe Sarah , Picetti Roberto , Milner James , Bonell Ana , Yeung Shunmey , Wilkinson Paul , Dangour Alan D , Hughes Robert C 
Published: July 2022

Introduction

93% of all children in the world breathe dangerously polluted, and urban children in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are especially affected. This air pollution is one part of a broader climate crisis that threatens to undermine the health of the next generation. Despite young people being increasingly engaged in these issues, their perceptions concerning air pollution (AP) and urban environmental health more broadly have not been well documented.

Methods

The Children, Cities and Climate (CCC) project used targeted social media adverts to recruit children, young people, parents and expectant parents (CYPP) to complete an online survey with a combination of open and closed questions in order to collect perceptions about air quality in their home cities, the main sources of AP, and how they would improve their cities.

Results

The survey was completed by 3,222 CYPP in 59 of the most polluted cities in 14 countries. Nearly two in five (39%) CYPP cited AP as one of the worst things about their city, with motor transport perceived as the main contributor. CYPP reported differing views on whether their cities were becoming better (43%) or worse (34%) places to live (33% reported it was ‘staying the same’). Numerous specific ideas to improve cities and urban air quality emerged, alongside an emphasis on also addressing structural barriers to change. A clear set of principles that should guide how city leaders act was also described, including the need to engage with young people meaningfully.

Conclusions

CYPPs articulated good and bad experiences of urban living and perceived AP and traffic as pressing concerns. They provided a clear set of suggestions for improving their cities. Further efforts to engage young people on these issues are warranted.

KEY MESSAGES

What is already known on this topic

The health of children and young people is greatly impacted by air pollution and in many cities, especially those in low- and middle-income countries, this problem is increasing as the cities industrialise. Children and young people are rarely consulted on issues of air pollution or urban design (especially outside of high-income countries), despite their lived experience of air pollution. At the same time, growing numbers of young people are engaging in environmental advocacy and activism.

What this study adds

Air pollution, and motor traffic, are ranked by children, young people and parents who responded to our survey as some of the worst aspect of urban living. At the same time, young people have numerous ideas for how these problems can be addressed, including both specific ideas for interventions and also cross-cutting underlying issues that need to be tackled, including poverty and poor governance.

How this study might affect research, practice or policy

The lived experiences reported by these urban young people and subsequent recommendations, should be considered in policy making and priority setting in cities around the world, particularly the most polluted cities in low- and middle-income urban settings. In addition, this research demonstrates the value of and an efficient approach to engaging with children, young people and parents directly; something that should be done more frequently on all matters that apply to them including urban policy making.