Children's Climate Emergency
Managed by Dr. Peter Carter
Managed by Dr. Peter Carter
Today's children are the first generation born into a climate changed Earth
Small children are the most vulnerable to all climate change impacts 1. At present and 2. Throughout their lives
IMPACTS
It is intuitive and has been known from the science for decades
that children are most vulnerable to climate change.
This in fact apples to all impacts
The smaller the child the more vulnerable to impacts
Children are most vulnerable to all climate change impacts,
and they face accelerating climate change with accelerating
frequency and severity of impacts. See Vulnerabilities
Impacts on a child may be multiple.
Global warming is accelerating and will continue to do so as long as governments refuse to put fossil fuel emissions into decline
- and not immediate rapid decline as in IPCC AR6.
IPCC AR6 question How will climate change affect the lives of today’s children tomorrow, if no immediate action is taken?
Most comprehensive current science on the issue
Feb. 2024, Climate Change and Children’s Health: Building a Healthy Future for Every Child, S. Abbott et al
American College of Pediatrics
One billion children at ‘extremely high risk’ of the impacts of the climate crisis - (UNICEF, 19 August 2021)
Climate Change: The Impact on Children's Health, January 2024, American College of Pediatrics
Harvard School Public Health, 2024 Children's Health , Climate change
Climate change is increasing the global burden of disease of which 88% falls on children
90% of diseases resulting from climate change are likely to affect children under 5 years
Injuries
o Extreme weather events
o Conflict increased
o Physical and Mental impacts
p Physical impacts to disability, fatality
o Homes destroyed
o Infrastructure damaged and pubic services hindered
Injuries are
Physical and Mental
Impacts of climate change threaten children’s mental health starting before birth, Oct 2023, American Psychological Association
Infections
o Bacterial Child diarrhea, cholera, pneumonia
o Viral numerous Increased transmission
o Novel viruses
o Vector-borne. malaria, dengue
o Parasitic disease
Air pollution
o Increased by climate change
o Acute, chronic lung, fatality
o Wildfires
Allergies pollen
Respiratory e..g. asthma can be life threatening
Food and water deprivation
o Dehydration Potential fatality
o Malnutrition
o Stunting chronic, potential fatality
o Persistent drought leads particularly to all above
Heat and floods damage crops
Lancet, 2021.
1.5°C, 2.0°C
Both are devastating for the world's children in all countries
As governments and corporations are increasing fossil fuel production, emissions will not decline (let alone immediately to avoid 1.5°C and 2°C as IPCC AR6) so neither
1.5°C or 2°C will be avoided.
The claim that 1.5°C can still be avoided is absurd .
1.5°C will be at or soon after 2030 and 2°C by 2050 (IPCC AR6)
General impacts with child implications
Impacts at 1.5°C and 2°C from IPCC 1.5°C Report
IPCC 1.5°C Repport
The 1.5°C Health Report from IPCC 1.5°C
WHO, 2003 Health impacts in general
The generation of today's child will suffer 7 times more extreme heat events. As well as deadly direct impacts this will increase
their exposure to air pollution (global warm effect). Their life expectancy will be decreased. (Ahdoot, March 2024)
Impacts
Linear effects
Extreme weather
children's health
2016, Garcia
Extreme weather children's health ..as above
Complex linkages
UNICEF, July 2024, A threat to progress Climate change is impacting almost every aspect of child health and well-being from pregnancy to adolescence.
