Environment

This solutions book provides practical guidance for policymakers, program developers, and international development partners to support youth on the move, particularly those living in poverty or with low educational attainment, in accessing green skilling opportunities. It highlights the importance of including youth migrants, refugees, and…

This document aims to familiarize readers with key concepts of lead (Pb) risk assessment as the basis for developing and carrying out investigations in resource-constrained settings where children have been found to have elevated blood lead levels (BLLs). It is intended to be used as part of a larger toolkit under development by a working group…

The climate crisis is affecting children everywhere – their lives, their communities and their health. Bangladesh – densely populated and with mostly flat and low-lying terrain – is one of the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including extreme weather, rising sea levels, and devastating floods. One in three children in…, Rohim, 12, Bangladesh. A boy poses with his arms folded at a Rohingya refugee camp in Cox's Bazar. Bangladesh. A child’s drawing on the theme of “What do you want to be when you grow up?” is pictured at a Multi-Purpose Centre in a Rohingya refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar. UNICEF/UNI496641/Nihab “I want to be a scientist, because they invent things to help people…, Bushara, 10, Bangladesh. A girl poses at a Multi-Purpose Centre at a Rohingya refugee camp in Cox's Bazar. Bangladesh. A child’s drawing on the theme of “What do you want to be when you grow up?” is pictured at a Multi-Purpose Centre in a Rohingya refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar. UNICEF/UNI496633/Nihab “I want to be a teacher to help my family.”, Ayat, 12, Bangladesh. A boy poses for the camera at a Multi-Purpose Centre in a Rohingya refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar. Bangladesh. A child’s drawing on the theme of “What do you want to be when you grow up?” is pictured at a Multi-Purpose Centre in a Rohingya refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar. UNICEF/UNI496629/Nihab “I want to help out the community.”, Sadiya, 12, Bangladesh. A girl poses at a Multi-Purpose Centre at a Rohingya refugee camp in Cox's Bazar. Bangladesh. A child’s drawing on the theme of “What do you want to be when you grow up?” is pictured at a Multi-Purpose Centre in a Rohingya refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar. UNICEF/UNI496631/Nihab “I want to be a teacher to share the knowledge I’m getting…, Mohammad, 10, Bangladesh. A boy poses at a Rohingya refugee camp in Cox's Bazar. Bangladesh. A child’s drawing on the theme of “What do you want to be when you grow up?” is pictured at a Multi-Purpose Centre in a Rohingya refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar. UNICEF/UNI496630/Nihab “I want to be a religious scholar. And a doctor. And an engineer!”, Abdul, 13, Bangladesh. A boy poses with his arms folded at a Rohingya refugee camp in Cox's Bazar. Bangladesh. A child’s drawing on the theme of “What do you want to be when you grow up?” is pictured at a Multi-Purpose Centre in a Rohingya refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar. UNICEF/UNI496628/Nihab “I want to be a doctor.”, Jainana, 10, Bangladesh. A girl poses at a Multi-Purpose Centre at a Rohingya refugee camp in Cox's Bazar. Bangladesh. A child’s drawing on the theme of “What do you want to be when you grow up?” is pictured at a Multi-Purpose Centre in a Rohingya refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar. UNICEF/UNI496635/Nihab “I want to be a teacher and I want to travel.”, Mohammad, 12, Bangladesh. A Rohingya refugee child poses at a Multi-Purpose Centre in a Rohingya refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar. Bangladesh. A child’s drawing on the theme of “What do you want to be when you grow up?” is pictured at a Multi-Purpose Centre in a Rohingya refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar. UNICEF/UNI496640/Nihab “I want to be a teacher.”, Tasmin, 9, Bangladesh. A girl poses at a Rohingya refugee camp in Cox's Bazar. Bangladesh. A child’s drawing on the theme of “What do you want to be when you grow up?” is pictured at a Multi-Purpose Centre in a Rohingya refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar. UNICEF/UNI496636/Nihab “I want to teach English and Burmese.”, Shohida, 12, Bangladesh. A child’s drawing on the theme of “What do you want to be when you grow up?” is pictured at a Multi-Purpose Centre in a Rohingya refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar. UNICEF/UNI496632/Nihab “I want to be a doctor. I’ll manage to somehow.”, Climate change is changing children everywhere, The climate crisis is not just changing the planet, it is changing children. Children’s bodies and minds are uniquely vulnerable to pollution, deadly diseases and extreme weather, and they are disproportionately affected by the impacts of disasters, environmental degradation and the climate crisis. Children are not simply inheritors of our…, More about the Rohingya crisis, Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugee children have spent six years in exile from their home country after fleeing violence in Myanmar. Many of them have been born into this limbo. UNICEF has been on the ground in the refugee camps in Bangladesh from day one. And we are still there, working with partners for every Rohingya refugee child who…

The Government of Georgia and the UNICEF Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) revealed in 2018 that 41 per cent of children in Georgia had elevated blood lead levels (BLLs). The Government responded decisively by taking immediate actions to address the problem and is following through by implementing a sustainable long-term strategy to assess…

Many people associate pneumonia with the elderly, but it is actually the biggest infectious killer of children worldwide. Every year, it claims the lives of more than 725,000 children under the age of 5, including around 190,000 newborns, who are particularly vulnerable to infection.  Every day, at least one child dies every 43 seconds from…, What causes pneumonia?, Pneumonia is an acute respiratory infection of the lungs. It doesn’t have one single cause – it can develop from either bacteria, viruses or fungi in the air. When a child is infected, their lungs are filled with fluid and it becomes difficult to breathe. Children whose immune systems are immature (i.e. newborns) or weakened – such as by…, What are pneumonia symptoms?, As pneumonia is an infection of the lungs, the most common symptoms are coughing, trouble breathing and fever. Children with pneumonia usually experience fast breathing, or their lower chest may draw in or retract when they inhale (in a healthy person, the chest expands during inhalation)., Is pneumonia contagious?, Pneumonia is contagious and can be spread through airborne particles (a cough or sneeze). It can also be spread through other fluids, like blood during childbirth, or from contaminated surfaces., How is pneumonia diagnosed in children?, Health workers can diagnose pneumonia through a physical exam, including checking for abnormal breathing patterns and listening to the child’s lungs. Sometimes they may use chest x-rays or blood tests for diagnosis. In countries without strong health care systems (i.e. few doctors, lack of access to chest x-rays and laboratories), health workers…, What are pneumonia treatments?, The treatment for pneumonia depends on the type of pneumonia. In developing countries, a large number of pneumonia cases is caused by bacteria and can be treated with low cost antibiotics. Yet many children with pneumonia do not receive the antibiotics they need because they lack access to quality health care. Other causes of pneumonia are viruses…, What role can oxygen play in pneumonia treatment?  , Oxygen is an essential and life-saving treatment for children and newborns suffering from severe pneumonia. That’s because the inflammation of their lungs prevents enough oxygen from entering their bloodstream.  Access to oxygen has for a long time been unavailable to those who need it. In many countries without strong health systems, oxygen is…, What can be done to prevent pneumonia?, Pneumonia can be prevented in the first place by increasing protective measures, such as adequate nutrition, and by reducing risk factors like air pollution (which makes the lungs more vulnerable to infection) and using good hygiene practices. Studies have shown that improved handwashing with soap reduces the risk of pneumonia by lowering exposure…, Is there a pneumonia vaccine?, Pneumonia caused by bacteria is easily preventable with vaccines. However, 40 per cent of children around the world are not fully protected with the primary vaccine to prevent pneumonia – the Pneumococcal (PCV) vaccine. In addition, other vaccines such as Diphteria-Tetanus-Pertussis and measles-containing vaccines and Hemophilus Influenza B (Hib)…, Where are the most children dying from pneumonia?, The countries with the largest number of child pneumonia deaths are concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Child deaths from pneumonia are concentrated in the world’s poorest countries. Within these countries, it is the most deprived and marginalized children who suffer the most. They often have limited or no access to basic health services…, How does air pollution factor into pneumonia?, Air pollution can significantly increase the risk of respiratory infection, including pneumonia. Almost half of all pneumonia deaths are attributable to air pollution.   The climate crisis is a child rights crisis and poses a serious threat to children’s health and well-being. Outdoor air pollution is a risk to children, especially with growing…, How big a factor is malnutrition in pneumonia related deaths?   , Wasting is the leading risk factor for deaths from pneumonia among children. It’s the most visible and life-threatening form of malnutrition. When a child is too thin and their immune systems are weak, they’re far more vulnerable to diseases like pneumonia. Wasting tends to occur very early in life and disproportionately impacts children under 2…, What is needed to stop pneumonia? , Swift action is required to ensure that no child dies from pneumonia and other preventable or treatable diseases.   That response requires reducing risk factors, protecting children’s immune system and ensuring access to good-quality health care, free at the point of use, with well trained and equipped health workers to all children. Preventing…

Lead is poisoning around one in three children globally on a massive and previously unrecognized scale. Lead poisoning is a major contributor to intellectual disability among children in low- and middle-income countries. Lead is a public health hazard in every region of the world, contributing to disease burden, disability and death. Most of the…

GENEVA, 27 July 2023 – Around half of children in Europe and Central Asia – or 92 million – are exposed to high heatwave frequency, according to an analysis of the latest available data from 50 countries published today by UNICEF in a new policy brief. This is double the global average of 1 in 4 children exposed to high heatwave frequency. Beat…

Goal Area 4 of the UNICEF Strategic Plan, 2022–2025, is to help ensure that every child has access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services and lives in a safe and resilient environment. Under this goal UNICEF provides WASH services through direct support, helps government partners strengthen national WASH systems and addresses…, Filename: GoalArea4_WebAccessibleFinal_v2.pdf Report created by: Creatrix Designer Organization: [Personal and organization information from the Preferences > Identity dialog.], Summary, The checker found no problems in this document. Needs manual check: 0 Passed manually: 2 Failed manually: 0 Skipped: 0 Passed: 30 Failed: 0, Detailed Report, Document, Rule Name Status Description Accessibility permission flag Passed Accessibility permission flag must be set Image-only PDF Passed Document is not image-only PDF Tagged PDF Passed Document is tagged PDF Logical Reading Order Passed manually Document structure provides a logical reading order Primary language Passed Text language is specified Title…, Page Content, Rule Name Status Description Tagged content Passed All page content is tagged Tagged annotations Passed All annotations are tagged Tab order Passed Tab order is consistent with structure order Character encoding Passed Reliable character encoding is provided Tagged multimedia Passed All multimedia objects are tagged Screen flicker Passed Page will…, Forms, Rule Name Status Description Tagged form fields Passed All form fields are tagged Field descriptions Passed All form fields have description, Alternate Text, Rule Name Status Description Figures alternate text Passed Figures require alternate text Nested alternate text Passed Alternate text that will never be read Associated with content Passed Alternate text must be associated with some content Hides annotation Passed Alternate text should not hide annotation Other elements alternate text Passed Other…, Tables, Rule Name Status Description Rows Passed TR must be a child of Table, THead, TBody, or TFoot TH and TD Passed TH and TD must be children of TR Headers Passed Tables should have headers Regularity Passed Tables must contain the same number of columns in each row and rows in each column Summary Passed Tables must have a summary, Lists, Rule Name Status Description List items Passed LI must be a child of L Lbl and LBody Passed Lbl and LBody must be children of LI, Headings, Rule Name Status Description Appropriate nesting Passed Appropriate nesting Back to Top Spotlight on the UNICEF Water, Sanitation andHygiene (WASH) FundResults achieved in 2022 to ensure every child has access to safe and equitable water, sanitation and hygiene U NIC EF/ UN 08 54 519/ Ow oich o Spotlight on the UNICEF Water, Sanitation and Hygiene…

For children, adolescents and young people with disabilities, the possibility of participating in certain conversations is often limited because they lack the necessary words, usually because they do not have the opportunity to listen to them, learn them and practice them. In addition, glossaries related to climate change are often not accessible…

Virtually every child on the planet is already affected by climate change. Natural disasters, environmental degradation, and biodiversity loss can devastate agriculture, cutting children off from nutritious foods and safe water. They can lead to dangerous environments and disease outbreaks, and destroy the safe shelter, quality health care and…, Our focus areas, Climate action, Social programmes for children need to adapt to a changing climate. We advocate for child-centred climate adaptation, resilience-building and child-sensitive climate policies, while mapping out children’s climate risk and supporting young climate champions. Learn more, Disaster risk reduction and recovery, Even before disaster strikes, children need measures that reduce their risks of harm and support a resilient recovery. We work on vulnerability mapping, multi-hazard early warning systems, comprehensive disaster-management strategies and post-disaster needs. We also help governments build their capacity to strengthen social services and…, Environmental action, Climate change and environmental degradation can be addressed for and with young people, through programmes for survival, health and well-being. We support local solutions that value biodiversity as well as nature-based solutions. And we act to protect children’s health from toxic metals, chemicals, hazardous waste, air pollution and other harmful…, Sustainable energy, A brighter life for every child begins with sustainable energy. We partner with the public and private sectors to advance clean, renewable and sustainable energy solutions. That includes areas like the vaccine cold chain, and programmes like solar water pumping. We help to electrify schools and health centres, and to enable community-level energy…, What we do, At UNICEF, our climate, disaster risk reduction, environment and energy activities aim to:  Advocate with governments and business partners to put children and young people first in their sustainability plans, budgets and actions towards a green transition. Strengthen the resilience and continuity of social services to climate and environmental…, Our strategy and action plan, Delivering results cannot be achieved by UNICEF alone. Our  Sustainability and Climate Change Action Plan 2023-2030  galvanizes a global commitment to ensure a sustainable world and to protect the most vulnerable children from the worst impacts of a changing climate and degrading environment. It outlines UNICEF’s organizational response to this…, Our advocacy, The investments we can make for children now will ensure that they survive, grow and thrive in the face of climate and environmental shocks. UNICEF advocates for these investments, while supporting young people with the education and skills they need to help make the world a greener place. Help us protect, prepare and prioritize every child for a…, Child-sensitive policies, UNICEF works to ensure that policies on climate, environment, energy and disaster risk reduction integrate children’s and young people’s views, concerns and solutions. Policies shape the world that the younger generation experiences today and will inherit in the future. In our climate change work, we support youth advocacy through tools and…, Multisectoral work, To ensure child-critical services are more inclusive, resilient to and prepared for disasters and climate change impacts, UNICEF works across the following sectors: Education, including  climate resilience Health, including  healthy environments ; Nutrition; Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), including  climate-resilient WASH initiatives ;…, Engagement with young people, UNICEF works to elevate and empower children and young people to meaningfully participate in the decisions and actions that affect them. We work with them to develop child- and youth-friendly tools for climate action and give voice to young climate activists, innovators and entrepreneurs., Innovation, Protecting children from the effects of climate change and empowering them as agents of change require transformational solutions . UNICEF’s approach to climate innovation is aimed at finding such solutions to the most stubborn climate crisis challenges., Evidence generation, UNICEF is at the forefront of research, tools and analysis that governments rely on to plan and develop policy, and allocate investments towards the most vulnerable children. Among other pieces of evidence, we have developed: The Children’s Climate Risk Index (CCRI) The first comprehensive view of children’s exposure and vulnerability to the…, Inclusion, The impacts of climate disasters affect different children differently, based on their gender , age, disability, location or migration status . UNICEF works to include all children in climate and DRR decision-making so to they can be better prepared, protected, and resilient., Publications and resources

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AMMAN, 30 October 2022 – Today, UNICEF released the Children’s Climate Risk Index (CCRI) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region with a special focus on Egypt. The Index highlights the vulnerability of children living in many countries in the region to the impacts of climate change. Ahead of Egypt hosting the UN climate change conference…