Almost every child around the world is exposed to at least one climate-related hazard, and the risks are expected to intensify unless greenhouse gas emissions are significantly reduced, according to a new report by UNICEF.
The report found that nearly half of the world’s children are living with at least three overlapping climate threats, including heatwaves, floods, droughts and wildfires, putting their health, education and overall well-being at risk.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said climate change is increasingly disrupting children’s lives, with extreme weather events becoming more frequent and severe.
According to the report, around 1.8 billion children are at risk from drought, while approximately 1.2 billion are exposed to extreme heat conditions. UNICEF also warned that nearly every child is affected by air pollution, and about one billion children are exposed to malaria.
The agency urged governments and businesses to speed up the transition to cleaner energy sources and take stronger action to address climate change.
Scientists have repeatedly stressed the need to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels to avoid the most severe impacts of climate change. However, experts warn that achieving this target is becoming increasingly difficult despite international commitments under the Paris Agreement.
