Healthy schools, healthy children – achieving climate-friendly and health promoting buildings for future generations

Abstract

Children spend a significant amount of their time in schools indoors, and the quality of this indoor environment influences their health and their ability to learn. Recent studies have demonstrated the specific vulnerability of children to air pollution, especially particulate matter (PM). However, awareness among the public, parents and policy-makers on indoor air quality in schools is low, and media reports are scarce. Therefore policy measures have largely focused on providing clean air outdoors. With the political drive to improve the climate footprint of buildings, including schools, there is an urgent need to consider air quality and health.The presentation will present results from a project by the Health and Environment Alliance on citizens science monitoring of outdoor and indoor air quality in more than 40 schools in 6 European capitals, Berlin, Paris, Madrid, Warsaw, Sofia and London in the spring of 2019. Pollutants measured included PM and NO2; as well as CO2 concentrations. Strategies on how to achieve an energy efficient and health promoting school environment will also be discussed.