In October 2024 the Climate Changers group visited Sol Haven, a permaculture centre near Northampton. We wanted to visit somewhere that really embraced the importance of nature and the way we fit into it, and the benefits to everyone of looking after our world. The visit was part of the Clean Air project – dedicated time for planning and creating resources to help support paediatricians and children and young people talk about the topic of clean air during appointments.
For many of us, coming from a city, Sol Haven felt strange and totally removed from our usual surroundings, and we reflected on this as a group – thinking that maybe this was similar to how some healthcare professionals might be feeling about having clean air-related conversations with young people. A bit uncomfortable, unsure, unfamiliar. However, it’s only by starting conversations can children and young people become more informed and in control of our futures, and so our work on the Clean Air project was a lot about how to get started with those conversations.
Permaculture is an approach to land management that aims to reduce waste, prevent pollution, maximise sustainability, and protect wildlife and habitat. So much thought is put into everything. Nothing is wasted. There are twelve guiding principles that underpin this, and we were struck by how many of these principles could be equally applied to how we should approach talking about clean air. Here are just a few:
Permaculture principle: integrate rather than segregate. Talking about clean air should be part of our everyday conversations about health. It affects everything about us and forms part of our whole. Just as ten years ago talking about mental wellbeing in an appointment about physical health needs would have been very unusual (and now it’s now quite common), we would like clean air conversations to become a routine part of health conversations.
Permaculture principle: observe and interact. Talking to children and young people about clean air is a two way conversation. Finding out what we already know, being informative without frightening, being willing to share own experience and to take on board others, are all important.
Permaculture principle: use and value diversity. We believe that everyone has a part to play. Everyone’s contribution is important and valuable. We all bring different abilities and experiences – one size does not fit all and so it’s important to have a range of suggestions and options around how to breathe cleaner air ready for discussion.
This year we’ve been working with the College to produce a toolkit for paediatricians who want to have clean air conversations with children and young people. But you don’t need to wait for them to start that! You can begin that conversation with them too. You could ask:
“ Are there things I can do at home to help my asthma?” … “How can I make sure the air I breathe is as clean as possible?” or “How is the air I’m breathing affecting my health?” One of our peers taught us the Chinese proverb “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time – is now.” It’s definitely time now, if not 20 years ago, to get talking about the issue of clean air.
This blog was created from the Open Letter to Doctors written by the Climate Changers and featured in the RCPCH Air Pollution Companion.
