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
From The Lancet 2021
Small children are:
- Dependent on adults for care and protection- separation can be fatal
- Fragile- cuts and bruises, bone fracture, injury to internal organs
- Vulnerable to injury and loss of life from extreme weather and wild-fires
- Vulnerable to climate change forced migration
- More vulnerable to dehydration
- Vulnerable to increased communicable and vector borne diseases (e.g mosquitoes)
- Having increased diarrheal disease
- Affected by increased allergies
- Being Affected by increased fossil fuel air pollution
- Being affected by increased food insecurity and malnutrition
- Being affected mental health disturbance
- Complication of pregnancy
(Climate change and child health: a scoping review and an expanded conceptual framework
Daniel Helldén et al, Lancet, March 2021)
UNICEF, Children’s climate risk index, August 2021
Children are currently exposed to increasing climate and environmental hazards, shocks and stresses
All the hazards listed below (from risk index) are increased by global climate change
Key findings include:
- Water scarcity – 920 million children are highly exposed to water scarcity. This is expected to worsen as climate change increases the frequency and severity of risks like droughts and water stress.Disease – 600 million children are at high risk from vector-borne diseases – those transmitted by blood-feeding species – like malaria and dengue fever. This is because the changing climate better suits disease carriers like mosquitoes.Heatwaves – are a high risk for 820 million children – a statistic likely to worsen as global average temperatures increase.Cyclones – 400 million children are highly exposed to these tropical storms, which are expected to increase in frequency and intensity.Flooding – the flooding of rivers and coasts are high risks respectively for another 330 million and 240 million children.Melting glaciers, increasing rainfall and rising sea levels will likely increase this risk.
- Air pollution – 2 billion children – almost 90% of the world’s children – are highly exposed to dangerous levels of air pollution. If we keep burning fossil fuels, this will get worseHeatwaves – are a high risk for 820 million children – a statistic likely to worsen as global average temperatures increase.Cyclones – 400 million children are highly exposed to these tropical storms, which are expected to increase in frequency and intensity.Flooding – the flooding of rivers and coasts are high risks respectively for another 330 million and 240 million children.Melting glaciers, increasing rainfall and rising sea levels will likely increase this risk.
- Disease – 600 million children are at high risk from vector-borne diseases – those transmitted by blood-feeding species – like malaria and dengue fever. This is because the changing climate better suits disease carriers like mosquitoes.Cyclones – 400 million children are highly exposed to these tropical storms, which are expected to increase in frequency and intensity.
- Flooding – the flooding of rivers and coasts are high risks respectively for another 330 million and 240 million children.Melting glaciers, increasing rainfall and rising sea levels will likely increase this risk.
- Heatwaves – are a high risk for 820 million children – a statistic likely to worsen as global average temperatures increase.
- Cyclones – 400 million children are highly exposed to these tropical storms, which are expected to increase in frequency and intensity.Melting glaciers, increasing rainfall and rising sea levels will likely increase this risk.
Almost every child on Earth is exposed to at least one of these risks, UNICEF finds. But the risk to young people escalates in countries with multiple overlapping hazards. For example, areas with at least four overlapping climate and environmental shocks are home to an estimated 850 million children – 1 in 3 worldwide. And 80 million children face at least six climate and environmental hazards.
Children are most vulnerable to all extreme weather events.
Children’s bodies are developing physically, which can make them more vulnerable to climate-related hazards like heat and poor air quality.
Their immune system is developing making them more vulnerable to disease
They are more vulnerable to extreme heat
Children tend to spend more time outdoors than adults, increasing their exposure to heat and cold, rain and snow, outdoor allergens, and insect bites.
Children drink more water than adults per pound of body weight.
Children are developing emotionally
Dependency on adults
Children are dependent on their parents, and may be seperated from them as result of climate change impacts
Conflict
Climate change increases conflicts to which children are most vulnerable
Indigenous children are more vulnerable
Children in Africa are the most vulnerable
