#EveryLife - delivering the New Urban Agenda priority of safe & healthy journeys for every child

Safe and sustainable transportation is essential for delivery of the SDGs; efforts to combat climate change and meet the Paris Agreement; and the New Urban Agenda.

While the vital role for provision of safe, low-carbon transport, accessibility for low income and vulnerable groups, and strategic urban planning are becoming recognised, the specific mobility rights of children lack a voice. This role the Child Health Initiative (CHI) is designed to fill.

The focus of the side event is our #EveryLife campaign and the Declaration of Every Child's Right to Safe and Healthy Streets. The #EveryLife Declaration calls for policy commitments to protect six fundamental child rights: the right to use streets without threat to life or health; the right to breathe clean air; the right to an education without risk of injury; the right to explore the world in safety; the right to protection from the violence of high traffic speeds; the right to be heard.

If adhered to by policy makers, these six simple principles form the blueprint to provide safe and healthy journeys to school for every child, outlined as a priority in the New Urban Agenda and the SDGs.

The event will contribute to the implementation of the New Urban Agenda and achieving the SDGs via two methods:

• Using the #EveryLife Declaration as an advocacy tool. Building on a groundswell of support where London, Mexico City, Accra and Lusaka have already signed up, Mayors and Government Ministers will sign the Declaration, committing to 6 key principles needed to ensure children have safe and healthy journeys to school, as outlined in the New Urban Agenda.

• Presenting practical tools and examples of how to deliver these policy commitments via replicable projects already delivered by the Child Health Initiative.

Building on country and donor support for safe and healthy journeys to school for all children by 2030 ('healthy' defined as travel on equivalent of a minimum '3 star' for safety, carbon, breathable journey) will be achieved through urban design; safe footpaths, cycle lanes and lower speed limits; safe & affordable public transport; and policy and technical interventions designed to bring air quality levels within WHO health guidelines.

CHI promotes the Safe System approach to road safety as outlined as a priority in the New Urban Agenda. CHI partners Amend and iRAP are collaborating to implement simple, light infrastructure changes that are shown to reduce injury and fatalities by 26%. We will present iRAP's school star ratings safety app that rates roads around schools, and work implemented by Amend that transforms roads to make all school journeys safe.

We will also share the Initiatives' TRUE Urban Emissions collaboration. TRUE showcases transparency in vehicle emissions testing, where data is collected from road-side testing of cars in real-life conditions. This is key to improving air quality in urban environments. Access to real data encourages policy makers and citizens to make greener choices and reduces the health burden on children globally. Testing in London and Paris is already underway, and is replicable for all cities.