The UNICEF and Fridays for Future recently unveiled a report titled ‘The Climate Crisis Is a Child Rights Crisis: Introducing the Children’s Climate Risk Index’. This is the first comprehensive analysis of climate risk from a child’s viewpoint. The report presents a detailed account of the implications of climate change on children globally.
Children’s Climate Risk Index
The index ranks countries according to children’s susceptibility to environmental and climate-related shocks like cyclones and heatwaves, and their vulnerability based on access to necessary services. Four South Asian nations, namely, Pakistan (14th), Bangladesh (15th), Afghanistan (25th), and India (26th), have been identified as high-risk areas for children in the face of climate crisis.
Indian Perspective
India is featured amongst the countries where children are most at risk due to the effects of climate change threatening their health, education, and protection. Over 600 million Indians are anticipated to confront acute water shortages, while flash flooding is set to substantially increase in the majority of India’s urban areas with global temperature rise over 2 degrees Celsius. Of the 30 cities with the most polluted air worldwide in 2020, 21 were in India.
Global Perspective: Countries with Maximum Vulnerability
Young individuals living in the Central African Republic, Chad, Nigeria, Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau face the worst impacts of climate change, enduring multiple climate and environmental shocks coupled with a lack of essential services such as water, sanitation, healthcare, and education.
Impact of Climate and Environmental Hazards
Almost every child worldwide is threatened by at least one form of climate or environmental danger including coastal and riverine flooding, cyclones, vector-borne diseases, lead pollution, heatwaves, and water scarcity. Approximately 850 million kids, or one in three worldwide, reside in areas where at least four of these hazards overlap. Another 330 million children worldwide inhabit areas affected by at least five major shocks.
Inequitable Impact
A disparity exists between the sources of greenhouse gas emissions and the regions where children face the most significant climate-driven impacts. The worst effects are borne by children in countries that contribute the least to the crisis, reflecting climate change’s inherent inequity.
Children’s Increased Vulnerability
Children are more susceptible than adults due to their increased need for food and water relative to body weight, lower resilience to extreme weather events, and higher sensitivity to temperature changes, toxic chemicals and diseases.
Lack of Climate Goals Fulfilment
The carbon emission reduction pledges for 2030 under the Paris Agreement made by 184 nations fall short of the target of keeping global warming below 2 degrees Celsius. Some countries are on track to miss their pledges, while a few major carbon emitters are set to increase their emissions further.
Recommendations
To combat these issues, it’s recommended to increase investments in climate adaptation, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, provide climate education, involve young individuals in climate policy decisions, and ensure inclusive pandemic recovery. Meeting global emission goals, scaling up social protection systems, and focusing on child rights are critical steps forward.
