Global Energy Stress: Challenges and Opportunities for Child-Friendly Cities

Abstract

Children's opportunities, challenges, and well-being are in large part determined by decisions made about their environments without their consent, decisions which are in turn shaped by broader, sometimes global forces. One of these global forces relates to the availability of cheap and reliable sources of energy. Modern Western societies have been built on the cheap energy that comes from fossil fuels, particularly oil. Yet the costs of fossil fuel energy are likely to continue to rise, partly due to increasing awareness of the need to pay for the impacts of this energy use on climate change. While some experts believe that alternative energy sources will seamlessly replace oil as the major source of energy, others argue that replacing oil may not be a straightforward exercise. The implications of global energy stress for children's well-being and for child-friendly cities include both negative and positive aspects. While acknowledging the possibility of increased poverty, hunger, and international and local conflict, this chapter argues that consideration of the possible impacts of global energy stress provides valuable opportunities to increase child pedestrian safety, boost the use of the child-friendly transport modes, involve children as active citizens, and strengthen local communities. All of these changes would create more child-friendly cities, as well as cities that are healthier, more livable, and more sustainable for all city residents.