Schoolchildren helped redesign a city to cut air pollution and climate warming
Air pollution has a particularly damaging effect on children. They’re still growing and breathe faster than adults do. They also live closer to the ground, where the most polluting gases from vehicles accumulate. Pollution from...Read more
Facing our environmental crisis head on
In recent months, there has been a disquiet brewing about where our efforts should be focussed in an effort to solve the biggest environmental problem on the planet. Both society and scientists are asking: What...Read more
Children are our future, and the planet’s. Here’s how you can teach them to take care of it
As the global climate crisis accelerates, early childhood teachers and researchers are considering whether and how to approach the issue with children. Should we talk openly about the crisis and encourage children to change their...Read more
The cost of climate (in)action
In this Australian election, will the major parties’ climate policies get Australia on track to meet its Paris commitments and how does Australia compare to what other countries are doing? As the Australian federal election approaches,...Read more
The city of Antwerp is ‘taking sustainability seriously’
Jinnih Beels is Antwerp’s Alderwoman for Education, Youth and Integration. In this interview, she outlines the city of Antwerp’s plans and policies regarding sustainability and child friendly practices. Beels also argues, the city of Antwerp...Read more
Shaping sustainable cities for children
The countdown to the Child in the City International Seminar in Antwerp continues. With that in mind, we present the second part of our interview with keynote speaker, Jens Aerts. In this article, Aerts discusses...Read more
Climate research needs to change to help communities plan for the future
Climate change is a chronic challenge – it is here now, and will be with us throughout this century and beyond. As the U.S. government’s National Climate Assessment report made clear, it’s already affecting people...Read more
The urban development expert in you and me
Jens Aerts will give his keynote presentation at the Child in the City International Seminar in Antwerp next month. His keynote is titled ‘Shaping a sustainable urban future for and by children’. In this interview,...Read more
Extreme weather exposes the vulnerability of our cities to climate change
Despite the Patriots winning the Super Bowl, January and February were not kind months for the people of Boston and New England. By February 10th, more than 60 inches of snow in 30 days fell...Read more
The urban environment reimagined as sustainable floating cities
Last week UN-Habitat hosted the very first round table discussion on sustainable floating cities at the UN Headquarters in New York. Architects, designers, academics and entrepreneurs discussed how floating cities could be a viable solution to...Read more
Meet Annika Skoglund keynote speaker at CiTC Antwerp seminar
It is with great pleasure that we will welcome Annika Skoglund as one of our keynote speakers at next month’s Child in the City International Seminar. She is an Associate Professor at Uppsala University, Sweden...Read more
School climate strikes: why adults no longer have the right to object to their children taking radical action
A worldwide wave of school climate strikes, begun by the remarkable Greta Thunberg, has reached the UK. Some critics claim these activist-pupils are simply playing truant, but I disagree. Speaking as both a climate campaigner...Read more
4 Ways cities can build more climate-resilient neighborhoods
As 21st century cities continue to grow, their capacities to adapt, learn and transform need to increase as well, especially in vulnerable neighborhoods. Cities are key players in the global movement to address the threats...Read more
Building cities for a changing climate
Our cities are responsible for a large chunk of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, so the way we plan and construct them has to adapt to the future impacts of climate change. Worldwide, buildings are responsible...Read more