A youth group working with people predominantly from ethnic minority backgrounds in Lawrence Hill, Easton and St Pauls is working to encourage sustainable travel and increase participation in the dialogue around climate change. The environmental movement has often been criticised for being dominated by those from white, middle class backgrounds and the sector has previously been found to be the second least diverse in the UK.
Bristol Somali Youth Voice has been holding workshops with young people living in parts of Bristol with some of the worst air quality with the aim of increasing awareness around climate change. They have been taking groups out on cycling trips and encouraging less car use.
The group predominantly works in the Lawrence Hill ward, one the most economically deprived areas of Bristol. The latest Census data shows that those living in Lawrence Hill ward are much more concerned about traffic and air pollution in their neighbourhood than the average Bristolian, but they have the lowest number of cars per person.
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According to the latest data on air quality in Bristol, the current levels of air pollution in Bristol are 2.7 times higher than the World Health Organisation’s recommendations. Inner city neighbourhoods like Barton Hill tend to be disproportionately impacted by poor air quality due to the high volumes of traffic that pass through their neighbourhood on their way to other locations such as Bristol city centre.
Mohamed A Sayaqle, Chair of Bristol Somali Youth Voice, said: “We work with young people who live in the most deprived and polluted areas of the city and are still underrepresented in climate change dialogue. Bristol Somali Youth Voice wants to inspire more young people to improve their knowledge about climate change and to understand individual responsibility to mitigate climate change and environmental inequality in our area.
“We want to shift the dialogue from policy level to grassroots discussion. We also want to inspire more young people in active transport; walking, cycling and use public transport.”
Ahmed Ismail from Barton Hill, who works as youth worker for Bristol Somali Youth Voice, said: “We want to inspire more young people to change driving habits, and start cycling, walking and using public transport - this will have both health and environmental merits. We also want young people from minority backgrounds to be part of the climate change dialogue, climate change is everyone’s problem."
A participant from the recent workshops, named as Mr Kayse, said: “I live in Barton Hill, I am happy to be part of these sessions, cycling is good exercise. Climate change is an important topic for young people and we should be part of the dialogue.”
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