Unicef utilises the talents of an international roster of illustrators to raise awareness of air pollution

Date
21 November 2016

Unicef has continued its #illustrators4children campaign on Instagram, updating the initiative to raise awareness of air pollution and pneumonia ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference in Marrakech. “300 million children live in areas where outdoor air pollution is toxic. That’s almost 1 in 7 of the world’s children,” says Unicef. “Air pollution may be invisible but its effects can last forever, especially for children whose lungs, brains and immune systems are still developing. “

Pneumonia is the number one killer of children under the age of five and the project has seen ten illustrators create new images and animations that offer their thoughts on the problem. Unicef has commissioned work by Maria-Ines Gul, Monika Forsberg, Veronica Grech, Antoine Cosse, Chloe Bennet, Kate Pugsley, Bodil Jane, Renate Groenewould, Henne Kim and Lieke van der Vorst.

Once again, Unicef is inviting creatives to join the campaign by posting artwork under the hashtag #illustrators4children. “I wanted to show that innocent children are not able to cope with the results of decisions [made by] adults,” said Renate Groenewould of her illustration.

Bodil Jane

How do you show something that is often invisible? We’ve asked some of our favourite artists from around the world to illustrate #airpollution and #pneumonia. Stay tuned! During the next two weeks we’ll be sharing some of the most original submissions. bodiljane is an illustrator from #Amsterdam, the Netherlands. While she doesn’t want children to wear bubbles around their heads, she wishes children like this girl could live in “a perfect world where [they] can breath clean oxygen from a green world.” Starting today, world leaders are meeting at #COP22 in Marrakech to discuss how to best achieve the climate goals they committed to at last year’s conference. #climatechange #illustrators4children</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by UNICEF (unicef) on

Veronica Grech

Did you know 300 million children live in areas where outdoor air pollution is toxic? That’s almost 1 in 7 of the 's children. Air pollution may be invisible but its effects can last forever, especially for children whose lungs, brains and immune systems are still developing. We love this powerful illustration by veronicagrech, an #illustrator and #artist based in Spain. It is part of our #illustrators4children series, where we asked artists from around the world to illustrate #airpollution and #pneumonia. #COP22 #climatechange</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by UNICEF (unicef) on

Renate Groenewoud

Monica Forsberg

Chloe Bennet

“[I]t is unbelievably sad that we live in a world where for some, breathing is a risk. The fact that this is an issue that we (the human race) contribute to – only highlights the fact that WE need to take responsibility and own this issue as every child deserves to have the basic human right of breathing clean air.” Powerful words by yeah.yeah.chloe. This illustration is part of our special series to raise awareness about the impact of #climatechange. We&#39;ve asked some of our favourite artists from around the world to illustrate #airpollution and #pneumonia. How would you illustrate it yourself? Stay tuned for more! #illustrators4children</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by UNICEF (unicef) on

Maria-Ines Gul

Lieke van der Vorst

Kate Pugsley

“Air pollution is all around us and unavoidable for young children living in polluted areas.” HUGE thanks katepugsley for sharing this piece with us! Did you know young children breathe twice as fast as adults? As their lungs and immune system are still developing, children are most at risk from #airpollution. As world leaders meet in #Marrakech at the annual climate change conference #COP22, we want to send them a message: The time to act on #climatechange is NOW. #illustrators4children #inspiration</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by UNICEF (unicef) on

Share Article

About the Author

Owen Pritchard

Owen joined It’s Nice That as Editor in November of 2015 leading and overseeing all editorial content across online, print and the events programme, before leaving in early 2018.

It's Nice That Newsletters

Fancy a bit of It's Nice That in your inbox? Sign up to our newsletters and we'll keep you in the loop with everything good going on in the creative world.