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

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 Nov 7, 2016 at 2:11pm PST

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 Nov 19, 2016 at 8:56am PST

“I wanted to show that innocent children are not able to cope with the results of decisions [made by] adults.” lutje_anna on her illustration for our series exploring the impact of #airpollution on children. As the annual climate change conference #COP22 comes to a close, we want to send world leaders a message: Inaction is not an option. Check out #illustrators4children for more! #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 Nov 17, 2016 at 6:15pm PST

“All we ask for is a breath of fresh air!” Those are monika_forsberg’s words. It’s also the message we want to send to world leaders, as they meet in #Marrakech at the annual climate change conference #COP22. Air pollution is directly linked to diseases that kill more children under 5 than malaria and HIV. The time to act is now! #earthtomarrakech</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 video posted by UNICEF (unicef) on Nov 16, 2016 at 10:08am PST

“[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 Nov 15, 2016 at 2:24pm PST

Blink and you’ll miss it . The impact of #climatechange is not always easy to see. That’s why we’ve asked some of our favourite artists from around the world to illustrate #airpollution and #pneumonia. This one’s by mariainesgul - a London based visual artist. Earlier this week, millions of children were forced to miss school in #Delhi because of the toxic air. This is a wake up call for the world. The time for #climate action is NOW. #COP22 #WorldPneumoniaDay</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 video posted by UNICEF (unicef) on Nov 12, 2016 at 9:02am PST

#foreverychild “access to fresh non-polluted air” is a right – liekevandervorst, illustrator from the Netherlands. The impact of #climatechange is not always easy to see, but it’s happening and its effects are real. That’s why we’ve asked some of our favourite artists from around the world to illustrate #airpollution and #pneumonia. The time for climate action is NOW. #COP22</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 Nov 10, 2016 at 3:43pm PST

“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 Nov 9, 2016 at 2:18pm PST