Cities 1.5

Do we all breathe the same air?

Mar 26, 2024

Exploring the impact of air pollution on public health globally, focusing on historical events like the Great Smog of London. Guests discuss initiatives for clean air, Black maternal health advocacy, and the intersection of social justice, climate impacts, and air pollution.

46:01

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Quick takeaways

Air pollution exceeds safe limits for 99% of global population, impacting public health significantly.

Intersectional response required for clean air: advocacy for disadvantaged communities, policy changes, and global commitments.

Deep dives

Air Pollution and Health Risks

Exposure to air pollution presents severe health risks, with 7 million premature deaths annually attributed to outdoor and indoor pollution exceeding WHO guidelines. Studies show even low levels of pollution can cause long-term health damage.

Introduction

3min

London's Fight Against Air Pollution and Global Challenges

4min

Exploring the Intersection of Air Pollution and Black Maternal Health Advocacy

2min

Empowering Black Communities for Health Equity

14min

Evolution of Organization and Call to Action for Global Health Disparities

4min

Clean Air Initiatives for Healthier Cities

15min

Discussing Clean Air as a Human Right and Addressing Inequalities in Air Quality Impact

4min

Being able to breathe clean air should be a human right but, according to the World Health Organization 99% of the world’s population lives in areas exceeding safe pollution limits, which has huge impacts on public health. Air pollution, climate impacts, and social justice are three sides of the same issue, demanding an intersectional response that not only makes space for the voices of the most impacted, but also the most disenfranchised.

Image Credit: Photo by Sai De Silva on Unsplash

Featured in this episode: The Great Smog of London, 1952, BBC Archive, Originally broadcast 5 December, 1962

Featured guests:
Agnes Agyepong is the founder and CEO of Global Black Maternal Health (GBMH), an organisation placing research and agency back into the hands of Black communities as change agents in their own health narratives. Key areas of research at GBMH include the impact of air pollution on Black women and their children. GBMH also supports the “Black Child Clean Air” initiative and the “Clean Air Wins” campaign.

Dolly Oladini is C40’s Senior Manager for Air Quality, bringing together global cities within the C40 Air Quality Network to share best practices and solutions for improving international air quality. Dolly previously worked as a senior policy officer for the mayor of London, where she promoted the T-Charge and Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) policies.

Links
The Cost of Fossil Gas: Policy Recommendations for a Clean Energy Transition and a Swift Gas Phase-out in Cities
A Pathway to Prioritizing and Delivering Healthy and Sustainable Cities
C40 Clean Air Accelerator
C40 Knowledge Hub - Air Quality Resources

If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website: https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/

Cities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and Cities 1.5 is supported by C40 Cities and the C40 Centre for City Climate Policy and Economy. You can sign up to the Centre newsletter here. https://thecentre.substack.com/

Our executive producers are Calli Elipoulos and Peggy Whitfield.

Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/

Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/

Music is by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/