2024-10-27 23:44:00
90% of girls and boys in Europe attend schools every day whose environments exceed the levels of air pollutants considered safe by the World Health Organization
Only 46 of the 399 schools analyzed by Ecologistas en Acción in their measurement campaigns NO₂ in school environments –11% of the total— respect the limits established by the new air quality directive approved on 14 October.
Causes of traffic pollution in Europe 33% of childhood asthma cases and increases the risk of suffering from this condition by 45%. A major portion of the toxic air they breathe occurs on the way to and from school.
Road pollution in Europe causes 33% of childhood asthma cases and increases the risk of suffering from this pathology by 45%. A major portion of the toxic air they breathe occurs on the way to and from school.
Streets for children, the countryside Clean cities
The day is attended by associations of mothers and fathers and families of students, teachers, organizations in defense of children and environmentalists Streets for childrendriven by the campaign Clean citiesand ask for the implementation of Effective Low Emission Zones (BEZ) to improve air quality and recover public space.
Winning space for children in cities is a global challenge. In recent decades the urban configuration has expelled girls and boys from the streets. The situation is so serious that 68% of public space in cities It is occupied by carsstanding or moving. A situation that not only has implications for the use of space but also serious effects on children’s health.
In recent decades the urban configuration has expelled girls and boys from the streets. The situation is so serious that 68% of public space in cities It is occupied by carsstanding or moving
For this reason, initiatives in favor are being launched throughout Europe return public space to childrenwith various school street programs. An example is Pariswhere it is planned to recover the space in front of 300 schools by 2026, and pacify another 100.
On the other hand, inside In Spain there have been and are several local programs to protect schools and recover roads for children. Some of them were paralyzed or slowed downlike the program We protect schools (in Barcelona). In some cities, such as Madrid or Valladolid, The Mobility and ZBE ordinances have been approved which not only do not protect children, but on the contrary widen the access exemptions for taking children to school by car. In the words of Carmen Duce, coordinator of the campaign Clean cities“These exemptions make no sense and also present serious practical problems in policing their application.”
Despite these problems in the application of the measures, the evaluation carried out in Barcelona of Protect the Schools program It is very clear: the girls and boys, families and teachers, as well as the neighborhood, evaluate the actions carried out very positively. Program evaluation Barcelona highlights a fundamental aspect: the streets best valued and accepted by the community are those in which pacification has been total. Limited measures, such as widening pavements or inserting deterrent elements, but without completely interrupting traffic, are not perceived by families as safe or effective measures.
The platform comes to the same conclusion. The road is oursin Paris, and the collective Mothers for the lungsIn London: School environments must be free from smoke, noise and cars. Temporary cuts are a cosmetic measure that does not solve the problem.
for the campaign Clean citiesof which Ecologistas en Acción is part, children’s health must be a priority. Even your right to the city. For this Friday 25 October a new edition of will be released Streets for children with dozens of events throughout the geography of the Spanish State and hundreds across Europe. “There will be pedestrian buses and cycle buses, recreational and protest activities at the doors of schools, demonstrations, theatrical performances, concerts and many other activities to urgently ask for more roads open to children and fewer harmful fumes”, concludes Carmen Duce.
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