final-caf-youth-statement_24feb-ab5b3e4c5db73b81.pdf

The 'Air Aware: Youth Statement on Air Pollution in Johannesburg' is a declaration by young people from various Johannesburg communities detailing the health and environmental impacts of air pollution and demanding systemic changes in air quality management, waste services, and youth governance.

• Young people in Johannesburg report significant daily exposure to air pollution from sources including waste burning, vehicle emissions, industrial pollution, and the use of coal, wood, and paraffin in poorly ventilated homes. This exposure leads to adverse health outcomes such as asthma, respiratory illness, persistent sinus problems, lung infections, eye irritation, headaches, and cardiovascular strain in elderly populations, which in turn negatively impacts school attendance and family finances.
• The document identifies a gap between South Africa's legal framework—specifically Section 24 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to a healthy environment—and the actual implementation of air quality laws. The youth identify several systemic failures, including poor service delivery, weak enforcement of by-laws, limited monitoring, and a lack of transparency.
• The youth demand a comprehensive set of interventions across five themes: health-centered air quality management (including real-time data and early warning systems); clean mobility (such as low-emission zones near schools and safe cycling infrastructure); waste-to-value solutions to end illegal burning; structured youth participation in governance; and a 'Vision 2030' that includes green jobs and clean energy access for informal settlements.
• The statement emphasizes that air pollution is an environmental justice issue, as it disproportionately affects low-income and marginalised communities, including those in informal settlements, who contribute the least to the pollution.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (n.d.). final-caf-youth-statement_24feb-ab5b3e4c5db73b81.pdf. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Final-CAF-Youth-Statement_24Feb.pdf

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. final-caf-youth-statement_24feb-ab5b3e4c5db73b81.pdf. n.d. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Final-CAF-Youth-Statement_24Feb.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=final-caf-youth-statement_24feb-ab5b3e4c5db73b81.pdf |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Final-CAF-Youth-Statement_24Feb.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairsndfinalcafyouthstatement24febab5b3e4c5db73b81pdf, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{final-caf-youth-statement\_24feb-ab5b3e4c5db73b81.pdf}}, publisher = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Final-CAF-Youth-Statement_24Feb.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }