The MARCH Centre is delighted to have joined the Cities4Children Global Alliance, alongside the Centre for Climate Change & Planetary Health. Cities4Children is an interdisciplinary global alliance of over 25 organisations working together to ensure that child rights are firmly embedded in the urban agenda.

The nexus of climate change, cities and child health is critical for the future of people and the planet. Across the world, children and young people are among those worst affected by climate change, with air pollution, food insecurity and water scarcity in urban environments having significant negative consequences on their health.

Over 30% of the 4 billion people currently living in cities today are children and this proportion will rise to 70% of 6.7 billion urban dwellers by 2050. Cities occupy just 2% of the Earth’s surface yet produce over 70% of carbon emissions meaning 93% of the world’s children under the age of 15 breathe air that puts their health at risk, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Over 1 billion people live in slums and informal settlements globally, and approximately 35-50% of them are children. Slums and informal settlements often lack the necessary water and sanitation infrastructure needed to ensure good health and hygiene practices. They are also especially vulnerable to climate threats such as hurricanes and floods, due to their fragility.

The Cities4Children Global Alliance was established to tackle the challenges faced by children living in urban areas, especially those who are marginalised. Young people play a key role in the development of a healthy and sustainable future for all and the people-centred, participatory, and inclusive approach of Cities4Children hopes to protect the planet by mitigating climate change in urban areas.

The alliance was launched on 9 February 2020 at the World Urban Forum, an event co-hosted by Save the Children who chair the alliance.