Climate change and children

Climate change has both a direct and indirect effect on children. Children are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change on humans than adults. The World Health Organization estimated that 88% of the existing global burden of disease is linked to climate change affecting children under 5 years of age.[1] The Lancet review on health and climate change lists children as the worst-affected category by climate change.[2]

Climate Emergency -

Children are physically more vulnerable to climate change in all its forms.[3] Climate change affects the physical health of a child and his well-being. Prevailing inequalities, between and within countries, determines how climate change impacts children.[4] Children have no voice or attention in terms of global responses to climate change.[3]

People living in low-income countries suffer from a higher burden of disease and are less capable of facing climate change threats.[5]

## Contents

* 1 Climate change impact on children
* 2 Health and Wellbeing
* 3 Environmental Impact
* 4 Climate change action by children
* 4.1 School strike for climate
* 4.2 Legal action
* 5 Child’s climate change engagement
* 6 Addressing climate challenges
* 7 Global initiatives
* 8 Youth activists on climate change and children
* 9 References

## Climate change impact on children

Oxfam photo from the Horn of Africa with climate-related famine refugees

Children are affected by destruction of homes, threats to food security, and loss of family livelihoods brought about climate change. The effects on children may be exacerbated by social and economic inequality, armed conflict, and health epidemics.[6] Climate change effects fall under two main dimensions: direct or indirect, instant or postponed. The effects on the child's physical health include: death and injuries, heat diseases, exposure to environmental toxins; infectious, and other illnesses present within warmer temperatures.[7]

There is also a significant increase in mental health and learning issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety, sleep disorders, cognitive deﬁcits, and learning difficulties.[8] Given this example about the post food period in Pakistan in 2010, 73% of 10- to 19-year-olds displayed high levels of PTSD, where displaced girls were severely impacted.[9]

Other severe occurrences that were detected were distress, grief, and anger; loss of identity; feelings of helplessness and hopelessness; higher rates of suicide; and increased aggression and violence.[10]

Adding to the physical effects, there are the psychological and mental health influences that are threatening to a child's wellbeing.[11]

## Health and Wellbeing

Extreme events caused by climate change can destroy homes, schools, child-care centers, and other critical infrastructure.[12] Typhoon Haian flattened entire cities and towns on the islands of Leyte and Samar, Philippines. Many child survivors of Typhoon Haian lost their homes and belongings.[13] In 2020, Typhoon Molave caused floods and landslides that destroyed homes, placing an estimated 2.5 million children in Vietnam at risk. It killed 9 and displaced more than one million individuals in Vietnam and the Philippines.[14]

Climate events have caused severe damage to lives and livelihoods.[6] Typhoons, storm surges, and other disturbances have resulted in loss of assets and capital and declines in family income among farmers, fishers, informal sector workers, and small business owners.[15] Families with more children are more vulnerable to catastrophic out-of-pocket health expenses.[15] After Typhoon Parma hit the Philippines, there was a rise in school dropout rates resulting from the loss of family incomes. Children who continued with school sometimes had to go to class without allowances to buy food.[15] In rural areas, fields, gardens, fishponds, crops, fishing boats, and farming equipment have been destroyed, while livestock have been lost, affecting food security for entire communities.[15]

## Environmental Impact

The Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Children are sensitive to the lack of basic natural resources which is caused by natural phenomena droughts and flooding. Significantly around 160 million children live within extremely high drought regions and over 500 million inhabit areas with extremely high flood occasion.[16] When it comes to the natural phenomenal occurrences, natural disasters lead to displacement of families and children. This displacement is done because of the extreme weather events with increased rates of physical and mental health insecurities.[17][18]

On the global level, children are estimated to tolerate 88% of the burden of disease because of climate change. Every child is dependent on caregivers and within their communities. The real threat is within the underprivileged areas which are already suffering from environmental; challenges. These will result in various diseases , disabilities , high death rate among children.[19] In 2013, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, assessed that the global temperatures will likely increase to 4.8 °C by 2100 if the current emissions continue to rise.[20] It is important to mention that constant exposure to air pollutants affects the birth weight, small size for gestational age (SGA), and preterm birth cases.[21] Once children are more exposed to air pollution (O3, particulate matter, SO2, and/or NO2) they tend to suffer from asthma[22] resulting an increase airway oxidative stress and airway inflammation in asthmatic children[23] Air pollution affects a child's neurodevelopment. For this if we come to compare a child born within h a cohort born before the closure of a located coal power plant, a cohort conceived after plant closure had significantly lower cord blood levels of PAH–DNA adducts and higher levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein needed in early brain development. This is where the risk lies.[24]

## Climate change action by children

### School strike for climate

This section is an excerpt from School strike for climate[ edit ]

### Legal action

Further information: Earth:Climate change litigation

Juliana v. United States was dismissed in 2020 on the grounds that the plaintiffs lacked standing to sue, but a new case has been launched on narrower grounds.[25] In the case "Duarte Agostinho and Others v. Portugal and Others" brought by children and young adults the European Court of Human Rights has asked 33 states to respond by May 2021 with information on how they are trying to limit climate change.[26]

## Child’s climate change engagement

Facing the challenges arising from climate change is critical especially when dealing with its impact on children. For this, targeting the issue through an Educational and Arts-based approach and involving the parents along the way is crucial.[21]

It is important to integrate climate change within the curriculum.[27] Once children learn about the existence and the demanding urgency of the global environmental problems around them, they become more aware and engaged towards improving the world's environmental status.[28]

Children appearing to experience / exhibit happiness after an art class

Arts help children's in different developmental aspects. By encouraging in having meaningful self-expression with respect to any ideas, climate change here, they are offered a medium to develop a sustainable resolutions towards their community and the globe.[29] It is noted that once there is a strong relation between kids and their parents, the latter's perception of issues could be affected through their kid's efforts. The more children's communicate climate change issues, the better the awareness it could be created among both. So, fostering this friendly communicative attitude has a positive effect on the parental perception and action later.[30]

## Addressing climate challenges

It is important to know that a child is a vulnerable individual to any issue, climate change is one of the major rising concerns for children and it needs to be addressed wisely. Remining them that they are not alone facing this challenge, sharing their worries and concerns, and turning the negative vibes into positive ones are recommended to reduce the impact of climate change on a child's wellbeing.[31]

While children are often the most effected by climate change, a poll by UNICEF found that children and other youth also want to feel empowered in the governance process for addressing climate change.[32]

## Global initiatives

A number of global initiatives and projects had been launched to address the impact and challenges of climate change on children.

Global efforts towards climate change action  Title  | Organization(s)  | Type  | Year

|
|
|

Global Initiative to Advance Children’s

Right to a Healthy Environment

| United Nations | Initiative  | 2019-2021
Goal of NCCAP  | Kenya’s National Climate Change Action Plan  | Action plan  | 2018-2022
Small Grants Programme (SGP)  | UNDP, Global Environmental Facility | Grants and projects  | 2015
Climate Sensitive Humanitarian Assistance  | UNICEF  | Initiative  | 2015
United Nations Joint Framework Initiative on Children, Youth and Climate Change  | United Nations | Framework initiative  | 2013
NASA's Climate Kids  | NASA | Website  | 2010
Protecting children’s health in a changing environment  | World Health Organization | Report  | 2010
Climate change: Take action now  | UNICEF, World YWCA, girls worldwide say, FAO,

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies,

World Organization of the Scout Movement, The Duke of Edinburgh’s

Award

| Initiative  | 2003

## Youth activists on climate change and children

Xiye Bastida - climate activist

Youth activism needs to be supported and advocated to reduce the impact of global climate change on children.[33]

* Mari Copeny
* Xiye Bastida
* Autumn Peltier
* Xiuhtezcatl Martinez
* Lesein Mutunkei
* Ella and Caitlin McEwan
* Leah Namugerwa
* Ridhima Pandey
* Isra Hirsi

## References

1. ↑ Anderko, Laura; Chalupka, Stephanie; Du, Maritha; Hauptman, Marissa (January 2020). "Climate changes reproductive and children’s health: a review of risks, exposures, and impacts" (in en). Pediatric Research 87 (2): 414–419. doi:10.1038/s41390-019-0654-7. ISSN 1530-0447. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41390-019-0654-7.
2. ↑ Watts, Nick; Amann, Markus; Arnell, Nigel; Ayeb-Karlsson, Sonja; Belesova, Kristine; Boykoff, Maxwell; Byass, Peter; Cai, Wenjia et al. (2019-11-16). "The 2019 report of The Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: ensuring that the health of a child born today is not defined by a changing climate". Lancet 394 (10211): 1836–1878. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(19)32596-6. ISSN 1474-547X. PMID 31733928. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31733928/.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Currie, Janet; Deschênes, Olivier (2016). "Children and Climate Change: Introducing the Issue". The Future of Children 26 (1): 3–9. ISSN 1054-8289. https://www.jstor.org/stable/43755227.
4. ↑ "Climate change and child health: a scoping review and an expanded conceptual framework" (in en). The Lancet Planetary Health 5 (3): e164–e175. 2021-03-01. doi:10.1016/S2542-5196(20)30274-6. ISSN 2542-5196. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2542519620302746.
5. ↑ "Unless we act now: The impact of climate change on children" (in en). https://www.unicef.org/reports/unless-we-act-now-impact-climate-change-children.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "UNICEF Concerned About Situation Of Children Affected By Typhoons In The Philippines" (in en). November 12, 2020. https://www.unicefusa.org/press/releases/unicef-concerned-about-situation-children-affected-typhoons-philippines/37874.
7. ↑ Sheffield, Perry E.; Landrigan, Philip J. (March 2011). "Global climate change and children's health: threats and strategies for prevention". Environmental Health Perspectives 119 (3): 291–298. doi:10.1289/ehp.1002233. ISSN 1552-9924. PMID 20947468. PMC 3059989. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20947468/.
8. ↑ Garcia, Daniel Martinez; Sheehan, Mary C. (2016). "Extreme Weather-driven Disasters and Children's Health". International Journal of Health Services: Planning, Administration, Evaluation 46 (1): 79–105. doi:10.1177/0020731415625254. ISSN 0020-7314. PMID 26721564. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26721564/.
9. ↑ Boston, 677 Huntington Avenue; Ma 02115 +1495‑1000 (2014-07-01). "Climate Change, Children’s Rights, and the Pursuit of Intergenerational Climate Justice" (in en-us). https://www.hhrjournal.org/2014/07/climate-change-childrens-rights-and-the-pursuit-of-intergenerational-climate-justice/.
10. ↑ "Mental health and our changing climate: Impacts, implications, and guidance | PreventionWeb.net". https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/52557.
11. ↑ "Europe PMC". http://europepmc.org/article/MED/29637319.
12. ↑ "Effects of Climate Change on Future Generations" (in en). https://www.savethechildren.org/us/what-we-do/emergency-response/climate-change.
13. ↑ "Top 6 issues children are facing after Typhoon Haiyan" (in en). November 14, 2013. https://www.wvi.org/typhoon-haiyan/article/top-6-issues-children-are-facing-after-typhoon-haiyan.
14. ↑ "Typhoon Molave, nine dead and over a million displaced between the Philippines and Vietnam". http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Typhoon-Molave,-nine-dead-and-over-a-million-displaced-between-the-Philippines-and-Vietnam-51419.html.
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Porio, Emma (2011). "The Social Impacts of Tropical Storm Ondoy and Typhoon Pepeng: The recovery of communities in communities in Metro Manila and Luzon". https://archium.ateneo.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1080&context=sa-faculty-pubs.
16. ↑ "Unless we act now: The impact of climate change on children" (in en). https://www.unicef.org/reports/unless-we-act-now-impact-climate-change-children.
17. ↑ Garcia, Daniel Martinez; Sheehan, Mary C. (2016-01-01). "Extreme Weather-driven Disasters and Children’s Health" (in en). International Journal of Health Services 46 (1): 79–105. doi:10.1177/0020731415625254. ISSN 0020-7314. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020731415625254.
18. ↑ "- CREATING A CLIMATE RESILIENT AMERICA: OVERCOMING THE HEALTH RISKS OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS". https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-116hhrg41273/html/CHRG-116hhrg41273.htm.
19. ↑ Zhang, Ying; Bi, Peng; Hiller, Janet E. (October 2007). "Climate change and disability-adjusted life years". Journal of Environmental Health 70 (3): 32–36. ISSN 0022-0892. PMID 17941401. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17941401/.
20. ↑ Collins, Matthew; Knutti, Reto; Arblaster, Julie; Dufresne, Jean-Louis; Fichefet, Thierry; Friedlingstein, Pierre; Gao, Xuejie; Gutowski, William J. et al. (2013). "Long-term Climate Change: Projections, Commitments and Irreversibility" (in English). Climate Change 2013 - The Physical Science Basis: Contribution of Working Group I to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: 1029–1136. https://research.monash.edu/en/publications/long-term-climate-change-projections-commitments-and-irreversibil.
21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Perera Frederica P. (2017-02-01). "Multiple Threats to Child Health from Fossil Fuel Combustion: Impacts of Air Pollution and Climate Change". Environmental Health Perspectives 125 (2): 141–148. doi:10.1289/EHP299. PMID 27323709. PMC 5289912. https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/full/10.1289/EHP299.
22. ↑ Tzivian, Lilian (June 2011). "Outdoor air pollution and asthma in children". The Journal of Asthma: Official Journal of the Association for the Care of Asthma 48 (5): 470–481. doi:10.3109/02770903.2011.570407. ISSN 1532-4303. PMID 21486196. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21486196/.
23. ↑ Gasana, Janvier; Dillikar, Deepa; Mendy, Angelico; Forno, Erick; Ramos Vieira, Edgar (August 2012). "Motor vehicle air pollution and asthma in children: a meta-analysis". Environmental Research 117: 36–45. doi:10.1016/j.envres.2012.05.001. ISSN 1096-0953. PMID 22683007. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22683007/.
24. ↑ Perera, Frederica; Li, Tin-yu; Zhou, Zhi-jun; Yuan, Tao; Chen, Yu-hui; Qu, Lirong; Rauh, Virginia A.; Zhang, Yiguan et al. (October 2008). "Benefits of Reducing Prenatal Exposure to Coal-Burning Pollutants to Children’s Neurodevelopment in China". Environmental Health Perspectives 116 (10): 1396–1400. doi:10.1289/ehp.11480. ISSN 0091-6765. PMID 18941584. PMC 2569101. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2569101/.
25. ↑ Budryk, Zack (2021-04-07). "Biden administration asks court to toss kids' climate lawsuit". https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/546916-biden-administration-asks-court-to-toss-proposed-amended-kids.
26. ↑ Daly, Aoife; Leviner, Pernilla; Stern, Rebecca Thorburn. "How children are taking European states to court over the climate crisis – and changing the law". http://theconversation.com/how-children-are-taking-european-states-to-court-over-the-climate-crisis-and-changing-the-law-158546.
27. ↑ Trott, Carlie D (2019-03-01). "Reshaping our world: Collaborating with children for community-based climate change action" (in en). Action Research 17 (1): 42–62. doi:10.1177/1476750319829209. ISSN 1476-7503. https://doi.org/10.1177/1476750319829209.
28. ↑ Jensen, Bjarne Bruun; Schnack, Karsten (2006-07-01). "The action competence approach in environmental education". Environmental Education Research 12 (3-4): 471–486. doi:10.1080/13504620600943053. ISSN 1350-4622. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504620600943053.
29. ↑ Haynes, Katharine; Tanner, Thomas M. (2015-05-04). "Empowering young people and strengthening resilience: youth-centred participatory video as a tool for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction". Children's Geographies 13 (3): 357–371. doi:10.1080/14733285.2013.848599. ISSN 1473-3285. https://doi.org/10.1080/14733285.2013.848599.
30. ↑ Parth, Sandra; Schickl, Maximilian; Keller, Lars; Stoetter, Johann (2020). "Quality Child–Parent Relationships and Their Impact on Intergenerational Learning and Multiplier Effects in Climate Change Education. Are We Bridging the Knowledge–Action Gap?" (in en). Sustainability 12 (17): 1–16. https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v12y2020i17p7030-d405617.html.
31. ↑ "How to explain climate change and plastic pollution to children" (in en). https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/live-lessons/how-to-explain-climate-change-and-plastic-pollution-to-children/z77wvk7.
32. ↑ "Participation, education, digital access and climate change are key concerns for children and young people in Africa and Europe, U-Report poll finds" (in en). 22 January 2021. https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/participation-education-digital-access-and-climate-change-are-key-concerns-children.
33. ↑ "We must not leave climate change for children to fix" (in en). https://plan-international.org/blog/2018/12/we-must-not-leave-climate-change-children-fix.

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