Children who grow up in a polluted area are at serious risk of developing long-term health conditions later in life. This sentiment is echoed by UNESCO research, which shows air pollution is associated with 1 in 10 under-five deaths. Exposure also increases the risk of heart disease, respiratory illnesses, and stroke.
Unfortunately, children are more likely to breathe polluted air today than ever before. That’s because the majority of the population now live in urban areas where traffic fumes and smog are likely to negatively impact children’s respiratory health.
However, the children of tomorrow aren’t necessarily doomed to breathe dirty air. If we can successfully embrace clean energy, we may be able to improve air quality and help more kids grow up with healthy lungs and bodies.
Pollution and Childhood Health
Breathing unclean air is a serious problem for young children. In fact, some speculate that air pollution poses the biggest threat to children today. This is because toxic, polluted air can cause respiratory problems like asthma, as well as neurological issues and cognitive difficulties.
Children are at particularly high risk of suffering from poor air quality as they are closer to the ground and typically breathe more times per minute than adults. Unfortunately, these same issues apply to babies who have weaker immune systems and are consequently at risk of serious health issues.
Additional research shows that children who live near busy roads are four times more likely to have reduced lung function and are at increased risk of suffering from bronchitis. Children who live in polluted areas may be more stressed than children who live in rural areas with low pollution levels and may be at increased risk of experiencing crime and antisocial behavior in high-traffic areas.
Low Emission Zones
Improving air quality will take a unified effort from lawmakers and local residents. This is something that is already being championed in the City of London, where the city’s mayor recently announced the expansion of an “Ultra Low Emission Zone” (ULEZ).
The ULEZ scheme is designed to improve air quality for folks who live in London by reducing the number of older, more polluting vehicles in London. This is estimated to save thousands of lives every year in the city and has already generated a 50% drop in toxic nitrogen dioxide pollution and an 800,000-tonne reduction in CO2 emissions across the capital.
These changes are largely driven by the increase in clean energy and electric vehicles (EVs). EVs, which do not produce tailpipe emissions, are typically more energy efficient than combustion engines, too. This is crucial for the global fight against climate change and pollution. Cities that adopt EVs can help communities transition away from fossil fuels by increasing the need for turbines, solar panels, and hydropower.
It’s worth noting that schemes like ULEZ aren’t without their detractors. Many feel strategies like ULEZ will reduce economic activity while others mistakenly believe the changes won’t make a difference. In reality, all citizens stand to gain from the changes that protect childhood health. Public support is key to expanding clean energy
Clean Energy and Health
A recent report published by the University of Harvard found that switching to 80% renewable electrical energy will have a profound impact on the health and well-being of generations to come. Switching to 80% renewables would save 317,500 lives from 2020-2050 and cut 9,200 premature deaths in 2030 alone. Young people are particularly well poised to benefit from these changes, which will likely improve air quality throughout their entire lifetime.
Getting behind clean energy for health reasons will help in the adoption of renewable energy solutions, such as solar and wind power. Public support for clean energy can alleviate issues related to land use and improve the uptake of net metering, which feeds unused energy back to the grid, and in turn help solve the biggest problems facing solar today.
These changes would also improve childhood health and reduce the risk of climate change as an ACE. This sentiment is echoed by research published in Current Psychiatry Reports, titled “The Psychological Effects of Climate Change on Children”. The report found that children who experience the effects of climate change are at increased risk of “PTSD, depression, anxiety, phobias, sleep disorders, attachment disorders, and substance abuse.” Researchers suggest that, left unchecked, this could cause issues with emotional regulation, academic performance, and behavioral problems.
Tackling climate change and improving air quality can reduce the volume and severity of climate catastrophes like droughts and wildfires, too. This is particularly important for children who live in at-risk areas, as natural disasters can have a catastrophic effect on children’s mental and physical health.
Conclusion
Children deserve to grow up breathing clean air, regardless of their zip code. More must be done to increase clean energy adoption, switch to EVs, and improve access to bike lanes and public transport. This will significantly reduce air pollution and help kids avoid ACEs related to respiratory disease. Switching to clean energy gives children hope for the future, too. This is crucial, as climate-induced disasters become increasingly common as the world warms.
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