Climate change and impacts

ISLAMABAD, 22 April 2024 – “Torrential and unseasonal rains are currently sweeping through Pakistan, once again putting children’s lives in danger. “It is a reminder of the devastating tragedy in 2022,  when 500 children lost their lives as 10 years’ worth of rains were dumped on villages in southern Sindh. I saw firsthand how children were…

Climate change is disrupting weather patterns, leading to more frequent and more intense extreme weather events, unpredictable water availability, exacerbating water scarcity and contaminating water supplies. Such impacts can drastically affect the quantity and quality of water that children need to survive. Today, a change in climate is felt…

The world’s most marginalised children are already suffering the unavoidable impacts of climate change – death, displacement, malnutrition, the loss of education, and the destruction of traditional ways of life. These consequences are collectively known as climate-related loss and damage.  Since children have their whole lives ahead of them, such…, The case for a child-centred Loss and Damage Fund, Children’s first-hand accounts corroborate that climate-related loss and damage is part of their everyday realities. In a new report, Loss and Damage Finance for Children , 55 children, aged between 11 and 18, from diverse geographies share their experiences of loss and damage and recount memories of missing out on schooling, the loss or damage to…, The state of climate finance, While the COP28 decision to launch the new L&D Fund recognizes youth as key stakeholders to participate in and shape the design, development and implementation of activities financed by the Fund, it only mentions children twice. To date, less than 2.4 per cent of climate finance has gone towards projects incorporating activities responsive to…, A chance for children, The L&D Fund is a chance to ensure that present and future generations of children can thrive and fully exercise their rights. But this requires: recognizing children’s unique needs and vulnerabilities; facilitating their participation in decisions about the allocation and use of funding; ensuring the equitable distribution of loss and damage…

Climate change is raising global temperatures and causing historic heat waves. More countries are facing hotter days more frequently, with more intensity and for longer periods. The heat stress caused by exposure to heat waves can negatively affect health and well-being, especially for infants and young children. A third of the world’s children…, Heat waves: Fast facts, What is a heat wave?, A heat wave is any period of three days or more during which the maximum temperature is higher than normal (in the top 10 per cent of the local 15-day average. Humidity can add to the temperature causing it to feel much hotter., What is heat stress?, Heat stress is the stress caused to the body when it is unable to remove excess heat. Exposure to high temperatures and humidity, which when intensified by physical exertion, overwhelms the body’s ability to cool itself. This can lead to heat-related illnesses which can range from mild, like heat rashes in infants, to more serious life-threatening…, Why are children more at risk?, Children are more vulnerable to the short- and long-term effects of heat stress. Children sweat less per kilogram than adults and have a higher metabolism, which means they get hot quicker. They also spend more time outdoors than adults for play, sports and other activities, putting them at greater risk for heat exposure and injury. While playing…, How do heat waves impact infants and babies?, Infants and young children cannot regulate their body temperature as well as adults because their bodies have more internal heat to begin with and absorb more heat from the environment. Babies’ immune systems are still developing, making them less capable of fighting off the symptoms of heat stress. Heat stress in pregnancy can put the baby at…, How extreme heat affects children, Extreme heat poses unique risks at different stages of childhood. For example, babies and young children under age 5 are the most at risk of increased heat-related mortality and morbidity, while adolescents are more likely to experience exertional heat-related injuries. Extreme heat can have serious effects on children’s health, mental well-being…, Health, Heat stress can lead to heat strokes and diarrhoea caused by dehydration. It can lead to an increased risk of chronic respiratory conditions, organ dysfunction like kidney failure, and chronic issues due to congenital defects., Nutrition, Heat waves make droughts worse, adding to crop failure and threatening children’s access to food and water. Food insecurity caused by heat waves has severe impacts on child nutrition., Education, Heat waves are linked to lower school attendance. High air temperatures and lower hydration are known to affect children’s ability to concentrate. These can impact overall school achievements., Mental health, High temperatures are linked to increases in mental health problems in children and adolescents. Heat can lead to high stress and poor sleep. These in turn can make episodes of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder more likely to occur. >> For parents: how to talk to your child about mental health Back to menu>>, How to keep children safe from heat stress, Recognizing early signs of heat-related illness and prevention are key Here are some ways to keep children safe and comfortable during a heat wave: Keep a close eye on their activities even if they are playing indoors. Monitor for early signs and symptoms of heat illness. Avoid the outdoors during the hot midday and afternoon hours. Help them to…, What needs to happen, UNICEF calls on governments and partners to take urgent action Mara, 5, is having her daily shower after school, in Bateay, Cambodia. As heat waves become more frequent and last longer, the need for urgent action grows stronger. Preparedness can protect vulnerable populations, especially children. UNICEF and partners are calling on governments to…

UNICEF’s mandate is to uphold the rights of all children, focusing on those left furthest behind. This means working to ensure that the most marginalized and vulnerable children can enjoy their rights and have a fair chance to realize their full potential, including children and young people with disabilities. This brief describes how children,…

Nutritious diets and sustainable food systems have the potential to nourish children and nurture child and planetary wellbeing. Yet, in many parts of the world, poor diets and unsustainable food systems are driving child malnutrition, environmental degradation, and climate change. At the same time, the climate crisis is slowing, and at times…

Climate change exposes children to risk in different ways. Rising temperatures and other environmental changes can make diseases more dangerous, droughts more common and can significantly impact children’s growth and development. Almost all the world’s children are facing at least one environmental risk whether air pollution, heatwaves, floods,…, 1. Climate change makes diseases more dangerous, Rising temperatures and other environmental changes worsen the effects of diseases on children and increase their chances of exposure. For example, the habitat for mosquitoes transmitting malaria, dengue fever and yellow fever is projected to expand, putting new communities at risk. In Indonesia, a shift in rainfall patterns has seen the mosquito…, 2. Climate change makes droughts more common and leads to hunger, As water dries up and food runs out, children are hit hardest. In regions prone to droughts, climate change is making water shortages more severe and more frequent, causing major crop failures. Madagascar is one such country where severe droughts are leaving families struggling to feed their children. Severely malnourished children often develop…, 3. Climate change worsens children’s health and development, When extreme heat meets air pollution and wildfires, infants and children are at a high risk of developing chronic illnesses and even dying.  In extreme heat, children are more prone to heat stroke that can cause organ and brain damage. Children are also at greater risk of asthma and pneumonia when exposed to air pollution, which inflame young…

The climate crisis is a child rights crisis – jeopardizing every child’s fundamental right to a clean, safe and healthy environment. And 1 billion children - nearly half of the world's 2.2 billion children - face extreme risks to their ability to survive, grow and thrive. Climate change is decimating the very foundations of what it means to be a…

GENEVA/NEW YORK, 21 November 2023 - Pregnant women, babies and children face extreme health risks from climate catastrophes that warrant urgent attention, according to a Call for Action released today by United Nations (UN) agencies ahead of the global Conference of the Parties (COP28) negotiations on climate change in Dubai. According to the…

Every child has the right to a safe, clean and healthy environment. It is critical for their growth and development. Breathing unhealthy air puts children and pregnant women at risk for adverse health effects and even death. As our environment continues to change at alarming rates, we look at what air pollution is, how children are impacted and…, Air pollution: Fast facts, What is air pollution?, Air pollution is a complex mix of pollutants including fine particles and harmful gases like nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide. These can penetrate deep into our lungs and bloodstream and cause lasting damage to our health., What are the different sources of air pollution?, Polluted air can be found in indoor and outdoor settings and can move rapidly between the two. It can travel hundreds or thousands of kilometers from its source. Outdoor or ambient Most air pollution comes from industrial sources like power plants and factories that burn fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas); road traffic; waste management;…, The impacts of air pollution, Air pollution can cause serious environmental and health hazards, including fatal diseases in people and animals. Difficulty breathing is linked with respiratory diseases like asthma and bronchitis. Air pollution can also have long-term health impacts, including cardiovascular diseases, lung cancer and diabetes. Children exposed to air pollution…, Climate change and air pollution, Climate change and air pollution impact each other. When the temperature is high, the level of air pollutants goes up. Heatwaves and other climate-related events such as wildfires worsen air quality. In turn, air pollutants such as carbon dioxide are also major greenhouse gases that can accelerate climate change. Nearly half the world’s children…, Children and air pollution, Children are more vulnerable to air pollution, Children’s lungs are in the process of growing and developing, making them especially susceptible to polluted air. Children breathe twice as quickly as adults and take in more air relative to their body weight. Many young children often breathe through their mouth, which takes in more pollutants. They are also closer to the ground, where some…, How does air pollution impact children?, Children who breathe polluted air are at higher risk of acute respiratory infections like pneumonia. Those that live in polluted environments can have their lung capacity reduced by 20 per cent. That’s similar to the effect of growing up in a home with secondhand cigarette smoke. Air pollution is associated with pneumonia, which is the largest…, Pregnant mothers and newborn babies, The first 1,000 days of a baby’s life are a critical period of vulnerability from air pollution. Exposure during this period can alter their physical and cognitive development, which can lead to childhood and adult disorders. Air pollution can also negatively impact the duration of pregnancy and weight of the newborn child. It accounts for 20 per…, Children in particular parts of the world are at greater risk, Air pollution disproportionately harms children living in poverty, accounting for most illnesses and premature deaths in low- and middle-income countries. Poverty forces people to use polluting fuels and devices for cooking, which is a major source of indoor air pollution. Many of the worst sources of outdoor air pollution, like power plants,…, Actions to protect children, How can we protect children from air pollution?, Here are some things we can do in our communities and homes to keep children safe from the impacts of air pollution: Keep children indoors when air pollution levels are high; If they must go out, protect them with a filtering and well-fitted mask; Install window and air filters at home, if possible; Use cleaner fuels and technologies to cook, heat…, The need for universal action, Air pollution is a global public health crisis silently destroying the lives and futures of children. Action must be taken to stop it now. Broadly, governments need to: Build capacities of the health sector in preventing, detecting and treating air pollution related diseases; Set up and maintain air quality monitoring systems and reporting…, Healthy environments framework, In 2021, UNICEF launched its Healthy Environments for Healthy Children Framework , outlining major actions for stakeholders to take to reduce environmental threats to children’s health. There are five major actions that UNICEF and its partners can take:    Strengthen climate-resilience and environmental sustainability in health care facilities;…

I'm from Argentina, a country that has had many economic problems for as long as I can remember. According to a UNICEF Argentina study, two out of every three children in Argentina are poor or deprived of basic rights, which means there is many people living in low-income neighborhoods who cannot cope with heat waves or floods. Clearly, the…

There’s no greater threat to humanity than the delusional belief that the climate crisis will spare the privileged few. The most humbling and terrifying thing about the climate catastrophe is that it does not discriminate – it will get to all of us eventually. The climate movement begs for an intergenerational consensus on acknowledging the…