Climate change and impacts

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…

This report builds on 2021’s Children’s Climate Risk Index and examines water scarcity and water vulnerability along with the critical actions the international community must take at COP28 to protect children against climate change. Climate change is changing children Water scarcity and water vulnerability Critical actions to ensure a livable…, The climate crisis is not just changing the planet – it is changing children. From the moment of conception until they grow into adulthood, the health and development of children’s brains, lungs, immune systems and other critical functions are affected by the environment they grow up in. Geography does not protect against climate change; it is…, Water scarcity and water vulnerability, UNICEF’s 2021 landmark Children’s Climate Risk Index (CCRI) report found that 1 billion children are at extremely high risk of the impacts of the climate crisis and examined eight components of climate and environmental shocks and stresses. This report builds on the CCRI and examines one of these components – water scarcity (the physical…, Sources: WRI, 2023, Aqueduct 4.0 and NASA, 2023, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Vegetation Indices Monthly (MOD13A3) Version 6.1. World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS84) projection., UNICEF Map of Water Vulnerability Index Map of Water Vulnerability Index, Sources: WRI, 2023, Aqueduct 4.0 and NASA, 2023, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Vegetation Indices Monthly (MOD13A3) Version 6.1. World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS84) projection., UNICEF A map showing water scarcity Map of Water Vulnerability Index, Critical actions to ensure a livable planet for children, COP28 is a critical juncture in the fight against climate change. World leaders and the international community must take critical steps with and for children to elevate children’s needs and rights within the UNFCCC framework to secure a livable planet. Blocks A teenager sitting outside her temporary classroom UNICEF/UN0831644/Andriantsorana Nady…, Download the full report, November 2023, The climate-changed child A CHILDREN'S CLIMATE RISK INDEX SUPPLEMENT . Published by UNICEFDivision of Global Communication and Advocacy3 United Nations PlazaNew York, NY 10017, USAContact: pubdoc@unicef.org Website: www.unicef.org Suggested citation. United Nations Children's Fund, The climate-changed child: A children's climate risk index…

BRASILIA/NEW YORK, 31 August 2023 -   UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell concluded today a four-day visit to Brazil to highlight the plight of children and adolescents in the country impacted by poverty and climate change. “Prioritizing children and their well-being must be a top priority for the Government and the private sector in…

To address the growing climate and disaster risk finance gap for children and young people, UNICEF has launched the Today & Tomorrow (TTI) Initiative. TTI is the world’s first integrated climate and disaster risk finance mechanism specifically targeted and designed to be effective for children and young people. The initiative responds to 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…

UNICEF, national stakeholders and international partners are collaborating on the Children’s Climate Risk Index-Disaster Risk Model (CCRI-DRM) subnational risk assessment to improve the understanding and management of risks that children, young people, families and their communities face from climate, environmental and other natural and human…

Noor is only 22 years old, but she has already experienced heartbreaking losses. The first time was due to complications during pregnancy. The second was amid devastating flooding in 2022 that destroyed her home in Sindh Province. Just days after giving birth at home, Noor was forced to evacuate with other members of the community in a makeshift…, Muhammad Hassan teaches at a UNICEF-supported temporary learning centre in Mairpurkhas, Sindh Province., UNICEF/UN0847805/Haro Pakistan. Muhammad Hasnain, 9, stands outside a UNICEF temporary learning centre in Rajanpur District, Punjab. Pakistan climate story, Muhammad Hasnain, 9, stands outside a UNICEF-supported temporary learning centre in Rajanpur District, Punjab., UNICEF/UN0847820/Haro Pakistan. Children take part in activities at a UNICEF-supported temporary learning centre in Rajanpur District. Pakistan climate story, Children take part in activities at a UNICEF-supported temporary learning centre in Rajanpur District., UNICEF/UN0847822/Haro Pakistan. Children study at a UNICEF-supported temporary learning centre in Mairpur Khas, Sindh Province. Pakistan climate story, Children study at a UNICEF-supported temporary learning centre in Mairpur Khas, Sindh Province, Pakistan., UNICEF/UN0847794/Haro Pakistan. Muhammad Hassan teaches at a UNICEF-supported temporary learning centre in Mairpurkhas, Sindh Province. Pakistan. Muhammad Hasnain, 9, stands outside a UNICEF temporary learning centre in Rajanpur District, Punjab. Pakistan. Children take part in activities at a UNICEF-supported temporary learning centre in Rajanpur…, Zahida, chief of UNICEF’s Hyderabad field office, talks with children in Shaheed Benazirabad District, Sindh Province., UNICEF/UN0847807/Haro Pakistan. Children are pictured at a UNICEF-supported temporary learning centre for children affected by the 2022 floods in Sindh Province. Pakistan climate story, Children are pictured at a UNICEF-supported temporary learning centre for children affected by the 2022 floods in Sindh Province., UNICEF/UN0847816/Haro Pakistan. Children draw at a UNICEF-supported safe space for children in Umerkot District, Sindh Province. Pakistan climate story, Children draw at a UNICEF-supported safe space for children in Umerkot District, Sindh Province., UNICEF/UN0847793/Haro Pakistan. Zahida, chief of UNICEF’s Hyderabad field office, talks with children in Shaheed Benazirabad District, Nawabshah, Sindh Province. Pakistan. Children are pictured at a UNICEF-supported temporary learning centre for children affected by the 2022 floods in Sindh Province. Pakistan. Children draw at a UNICEF-supported…

Lilongwe, 19 May 2023 – At least 573,000 children under five are at risk of suffering from malnutrition in Malawi, UNICEF warns. Despite recent progress in reducing chronic malnutrition, acute food insecurity—compounded by recurrent climate shocks, preventable disease outbreaks, economic instability, and chronic underfunding in the social sectors…

Climate change is raising global temperatures and increasing the frequency, intensity and duration of heatwaves. Heat stress contributes to significant negative health outcomes, particularly for infants, children, pregnant women, the elderly, outdoor workers and other vulnerable people. For infants, young children and pregnant women, greater heat…

"Excellencies, colleagues … it is good to be with you today for this critically important discussion. UNICEF looks forward to expanding our work with the Global Network against Food Crises, especially given the disproportionate impact food and nutrition insecurity have on children and women. "The findings presented in this year’s Global Report…

NAIROBI/NEW YORK, 3 May 2023 – UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell travelled to eastern Kenya yesterday to meet families and refugees struggling to recover from the worst climate-induced drought to hit the region in 40 years. After five poor or failed rainy seasons in the last three years in the Horn of Africa, many families lost their…

India is one of the countries most vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change, ranking 26 out of 163 countries in the UNICEF children’s climate risk index of 2021. In response, UNICEF has engaged with members of national focus group on environmental education to integrate climate change elements into the new National Curriculum Framework…