A recent report from UNICEF reveals that nearly half of the world’s children faced high to extreme water stress in 2022. In addition to documenting the water stress levels, the report also casts a light on how climate and environmental changes, driven by climate change, affect children’s lives.
Key Highlights From The Report
UNICEF’s report displays a range of alarming statistics. In 2022 alone, an estimated 953 million children suffered from high or extreme water stress, while 739 million witnessed water scarcity. Additionally, about 436 million children resided in areas with high water vulnerability. Climate change is expected to escalate such issues by 2050, exposing over 2 billion children to the effects of frequent heat waves.
Contributing Factors To Water Vulnerability
Children’s water vulnerability is exacerbated due to several factors, including poor drinking water services, elevated water stress levels, interannual and seasonal variability, groundwater decline, and drought events.
Health And Nutritional Impact On Children
Climate-linked occurrences such as floods severely hinder access to safe water and sanitation, leading to diseases like diarrhea among children. Moreover, fluctuating temperatures and unpredictable rainfall patterns can disrupt food production, aggravating child malnutrition due to crop failures and rising food prices.
UNICEF Advocacy For A Child-Centric Approach To Climate Action
UNICEF is advocating for a child-centric approach towards climate action, pushing for a better emphasis on children’s needs during the 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. They urge for the inclusion of children and climate-resilient essential services in decisions related to the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA), stressing the need for child-responsive funding arrangements within the Loss and Damage Fund to aid climate-impacted countries.
Understanding Water Stress
Water stress occurs when the demand for water surpasses its available supply, or when poor quality restricts its use. Factors such as population growth, inefficient resource management, climate change, and pollution contribute to this condition, creating obstacles to accessing clean water for societal, economic, and environmental purposes.
Falkenmark Indicator Or Water Stress Index
The Falkenmark Indicator or Water Stress Index is a tool employed globally to measure water scarcity. It comprises the total available water resources in relation to its population, reflecting the pressure exerted on these resources.
Impact Of Water Stress On Children
In zones affected by water scarcity, children often bear the brunt of associated health risks. This can result in a higher occurrence of waterborne diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, and dysentery due to the utilization of contaminated water sources. Chronic water stress can also result in long-term health effects on children’s growth, cognitive development, and overall health, which could potentially affect their future opportunities and quality of life.
Influence Of Water Scarcity On Gender Roles
In many societies, gender roles determine water-related responsibilities. Water scarcity often places an unequal burden on girls and women, influencing girls’ education and perpetuating gender inequalities, which can shape children’s understanding of gender roles and societal expectations.
Suggested Solutions
Several strategies can be employed to combat these issues, ranging from hygiene education programs to integrating water-saving practices into school curricula. Additionally, incorporating climate change education into school curricula to raise awareness among children can be a significant step. Strengthening global policies to protect children’s rights in the face of climate change and water stress is essential. These policies should incorporate child-centred approaches and ensure that children’s voices are considered in policy decisions.
