Pollution from diesel-powered school buses harms children’s physical and mental health. Exposure to diesel exhaust has been linked to heart and lung conditions, cancer, effects on the central nervous system, immunological effects, reproductive and developmental effects and effects of brain function and learning. Children are at greater health risk due to a number of factors – their developing bodies, brains and lungs are more susceptible to harm, they breathe more air per kilogram of body weight, they spend more time being active outdoors, and they are closer to the ground where vehicle emissions are concentrated.

Shifting to electric school buses is a step in ensuring healthy learning environments and better health outcomes for all children.

To accelerate this shift and to strengthen partners’ advocacy efforts, the Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health and Environment (CPCHE), in partnership with Pollution Probe and Mobility Futures Lab created this “Child Health Benefits of Investing in Electric School Buses” messaging kit.

The messaging kit includes:

1. Presentation on the Child Health Benefits of Investing in Electric School Buses: highlights the facts related to the child-health benefits and addresses health and safety concerns.

2. Social Media Graphics: See below for social media graphics that present the multiple ways that investments in electric school buses are investments in children’s health and well-being, today and in the future.

We encourage teachers, parents, health professionals and transportation stakeholders to use these resources to raise awareness and advocate for policies and other action that accelerate the deployment of electric school buses – for a healthier and more climate-resilient future for all children.

Related resource:

CPCHE Backgrounder: Child Health Benefits of Investing in Electric School Buses – Key Messages and Evidence Summary. This document can support use of the messaging kit by providing an overview of the health risks of diesel exhaust, and the child health benefits of electric school buses.