Nearly all children worldwide now face at least one major climate risk, according to a new report published by UNICEF. The UN agency warns that the effects of climate change are increasingly threatening the health, safety, and development of the youngest.
According to UNICEF estimates, up to 1,8 billion children are exposed to droughts, while approximately 1,2 billion live in areas affected by extreme heat waves. These phenomena are among the main climate hazards affecting the most vulnerable populations.
The report highlights that children are particularly vulnerable to the consequences of extreme weather events. Periods of drought can compromise access to clean water and food, while extreme heat increases health risks and disrupts schooling as well as families' living conditions.
UNICEF believes that the effects of climate change are no longer limited to certain regions of the globe. They now affect populations on every continent, exposing an unprecedented number of children to increasingly difficult environmental conditions.
The UN agency also warns that climate risks can exacerbate other problems, including malnutrition, population displacement, waterborne diseases, and social inequality. Children living in the poorest countries are often the most vulnerable, even though they contribute the least to emissions that cause global warming.
In response to this situation, UNICEF is calling on governments and international organizations to strengthen adaptation and protection measures for the youngest populations. The organization believes that combating the effects of climate change has become a crucial priority for safeguarding the future of hundreds of millions of children worldwide.
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