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Clean Cities Campaign Day 2
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Urban planners, policymakers, campaigners, parents, and anyone interested in creating healthier, more livable cities for children and all residents.
TL;DR
The second day of the Curious Cities Assembly focuses on creating child-friendly cities by improving urban planning and mobility. Speakers discuss barriers children face, political realities of change, and the importance of active travel for public health and tackling the climate emergency.
Key Takeaways
- Creating child-friendly cities with healthier streets for kids directly benefits everyone, enhancing public health and livability for all residents.
- The decline in children's independent mobility is a significant loss of freedom and access to health, stemming from urban planning that prioritizes cars.
- Policies enabling children's independent movement and play are crucial not only for public health but also as an essential strategy to combat the climate emergency.
- The UK government's transport emissions increased last year, highlighting a critical gap between national policy ambitions and the reality of local implementation for cleaner cities.
- Focusing on children's ability to navigate their environment independently, like passing the 'Aggie test,' serves as a powerful proxy for overall urban quality of life.
- A new 4.5 billion pound strategy aims to boost active travel in the UK, with a specific goal of 60% of young people commuting actively to school by 2035.
- The movement to create child-friendly cities aims to unite diverse stakeholders, including leaders, experts, and citizens, to prioritize children's needs in urban planning.
In This Video
- 21:19Welcome to Curious Cities Assembly
Oliver Lord welcomes attendees to the second day of the Curious Cities Assembly, focusing on cleaner, healthier cities.
- 21:46Child-Friendly Cities and Movement
The work aims to create child-friendly cities, making streets healthier for children and everyone, uniting a movement for city planning.
- 22:42Climate Emergency and Transport
Despite government targets, transport emissions increased. Policies enabling independent child mobility are crucial for public health and the climate.
- 23:18Addressing Barriers and Political Realities
Today's sessions will detail barriers children face and solutions, discussing political realities with leaders from London, Paris, and New York.
- 23:58Extreme Heat and Event Logistics
Acknowledging the record heatwave, organizers provide support like fans and a cool room, and thank those joining via live stream.
- 25:24Yesterday's Focus and Today's Topics
Yesterday covered childhood mechanics, toxic air, and sedentary lifestyles. Today delves deeper into failing mobility systems and the car's impact.
- 26:47Introducing Chris Boardman
Chris Boardman, National Active Travel Commissioner, is introduced. He is responsible for a strategy to boost active travel in the UK.
Questions & Answers
What is the Clean Cities Campaign?
Clean Cities is a network of over 150 organizations in 20 countries working to create cleaner, healthier, and more livable cities by accelerating the transition to sustainable urban environments.
What is the goal of the Curious Cities Assembly?
The Curious Cities Assembly aims to unite local leaders, council officers, funders, campaigners, experts, academics, architects, and civil society to place children's curiosity at the heart of city planning.
Why are healthier streets for kids important?
Creating healthier streets for children leads to healthier streets for everyone, promoting public health and providing alternatives to car dependence.
What is the UK government's climate change committee's assessment?
The UK government's climate change committee stated that the UK is not moving fast enough to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and emissions from surface transport actually increased.
What is the National Active Travel Commissioner's strategy?
The strategy involves a 4.5 billion pound investment to boost active travel in the UK, aiming for 60% of children and young people to commute actively to school by 2035 in England.
What personal story inspired the National Active Travel Commissioner?
The commissioner was inspired by his 7-year-old daughter's question, 'Can we ride to the park?', and his inability to safely answer 'yes' to that short distance.
Key Terms
- Clean Cities — A network working across the UK and Europe to accelerate the transition to cleaner, healthier, and more livable cities.
- Curious Cities Assembly — An initiative to unite various stakeholders to put children's curiosity at the center of city planning.
- Active Travel — Physical activity undertaken for the purpose of travel, such as walking or cycling.