Mayor of London praises international air quality exchange
December 7, 2017 by FIA Foundation
Categories: Air Quality
Sheila Watson, Deputy Director of the FIA Foundation
The FIA Foundation welcomed the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to its
student air quality exchange project in New Delhi.
Students from Maharaja Agarsain Public School in North West New Delhi
particpated in the air quality exchange project.
The FIA Foundation was delighted to
welcome the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to its student air quality exchange
project in New Delhi on 5 December.
The FIA Foundation funded an air quality exchange project between
London, Delhi and Nairobi schools, for students to learn about their
environment and share their experiences.
Ten year olds from three schools participated in the exchange: Townsend
School in South London; Maharaja Agarsain Public School in North West New
Delhi; and Milimani Primary School in Nairobi.
Visiting the school during his tour of India, the Mayor met with
students who demonstrated the air quality testing and performed a play on air
quality as well a range of traditional welcomes.
Levels of nitrogen dioxide (NOx), a harmful pollutant that comes from
vehicle exhausts, particularly diesel vehicles, were tested by students using a
‘citizen-science’ toolkit, measuring the air quality around their schools and
local highways. Students learnt about the impact of air pollution to become
‘air quality champions’, raising awareness and promoting change in their local
area.
Initial results of the exchange showed that Delhi recorded the highest
levels of NOx, with even the lowest readings exceeding World Health
Organisation guidance limits. In London, air quality around the school was
close to the limit but major roads exceeded these guidelines. In Nairobi,
however, testing suggested that the levels of NOx never exceeded recommended
levels.
Citizen science is a powerful way of engaging communities in issue such
as poor air quality and helps empower individuals to be a part of the solution.
The educational programme was designed to teach children and parents alike
about air pollution, enabling behavioural changes and empowering them to call
for wider change.
The FIA Foundation’s international project used the work of the London
Sustainability Exchange (LSx), with partner organisations Clean Air Asia in
Delhi and UN Environment in Nairobi to set up the learning and exchange. It
followed the development of LSx’s CleanerAir4schools toolkit, used by over 30
London primary schools following funding from the Mayor of London in 2013.
The exchange has enabled students to share their experiences with each
other, learning about the similarities and differences between their cities and
developing critical thinking about the ways to enable local changes to address
the global challenge.
Sheila Watson, Deputy Director of the FIA Foundation, Said:
“We know how bad it is for our children to breath dirty air, and the
terrible impact it can have on their longterm health and life chances. It is
vital though that those who are most affected by the dirty air – children –
also make their voices heard. Not only are the children learning about the
science behind air quality, but they are also communicating with each other –
literally across continents - sharing their experiences and joining their
voices in demanding clean air and safe journeys to school.
“We at FIA Foundation add our voice to that call for action; we welcome
the clear commitment of Mayor Khan to this issue in London and here in India;
and we pledge ourselves to continue to support every child’s right to breath
clean air, wherever they live or go to school.”
The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “Air pollution is a global problem
that harms the lives of millions of people. Only by working together will we
help beat this international health crisis and protect people from breathing in
air so filthy it damages their lungs and causes diseases. I’m proud today to
announce London and Bengaluru will be leading a new air quality partnership. We
hope to work with key cities across the world and in India, including with our
good friends here in Delhi.”
