Global – A recent report by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) revealed that one in three children globally is living in areas with high or very high-water scarcity. Released on Monday, "The Climate Changed Child" report underscores the compounded challenges posed by limited water availability and inadequate drinking water and sanitation services, impacting an estimated 739 million children.
According to Philippines News Agency, the report, the dual burden of diminishing water resources and insufficient water services exacerbates risks for children, making them more vulnerable to the effects of climate change. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell emphasized the unique susceptibility of children to environmental hazards such as polluted air, poor nutrition, and extreme heat. Russell noted that children are not only witnessing environmental changes, such as drying water sources and more frequent severe weather events, but are also experiencing detrimental impacts on their mental and physical health.
The report sheds light on the broader impact of climate change on children, highlighting their disproportionate suffering due to diseases, air pollution, and extreme weather events like floods and droughts. It points out that from conception to adulthood, a child's development, including brain, lung, and immune system functions, is significantly influenced by their environment. Children, it states, are more prone to the harmful effects of air pollution compared to adults due to their faster breathing rates and ongoing organ development.
The majority of the affected children reside in low- and middle-income countries in regions like sub-Saharan Africa, Central and Southern Asia, and Eastern and South-Eastern Asia. In 2022, around 436 million children lived in areas of extreme water vulnerability, with countries such as Niger, Jordan, Burkina Faso, Yemen, Chad, and Namibia experiencing high exposure rates, where eight out of 10 children are affected.
The report advocates for investment in safe drinking water and sanitation services as a critical defense measure to protect children from the impacts of climate change. The release of this report comes ahead of the COP28 climate change summit, scheduled to begin on November 30 in the United Arab Emirates. COP28 refers to the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.