New York, 26 September 2022 (TDI): United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) declared the climate crisis a child rights crisis. It reported, “Over 1 billion children are at extremely high risk of severe and destructive climate hazards.”
The climate crisis is a child rights crisis.
It’s time leaders take urgent #ClimateAction to ensure a livable planet #ForEveryChild. https://t.co/wJD993crqh
— UNICEF (@UNICEF) September 26, 2022
UNICEF has urged global leaders to come forward and take urgent climate actions to save these innocent lives.
Hazardous climate change
Global warming is increasing with each passing day, this climate change is causing floods, cyclones, droughts, and whatnot. According to UNICEF, air pollution, cyclones, disease, flooding, heat waves, and water scarcity put almost every child at risk.
Children will suffer the most, especially the ones belonging to the poorest communities. Food shortages and malnutrition is killing millions of children in the Sub-Saharan region of Africa. Most recently, the floods in Pakistan caused by climate change killed over 500 children.
Urgent climate action is the need of the hour according to UNICEF. It calls for the nations to reduce carbon emissions as it remains the only long-term solution. The entire globe must work together to enhance the immunity of children to the unavoidable impacts of the climate crisis.
UNICEF has also asked the governments to protect the health, safety, learning, and opportunities of every child. They should protect the rights of every child to safe water, health, education, and nutrition.
Along with that, governments must improve the adaptive capacity of young people to live in a climate-changed world. Their freedom of speech must be protected. They must have a say in their health, education, and basic rights.
They must also be included in policy making process ensuring their voices are heard and acted on. We must enhance their education and skills so they can participate in creating a sustainable future.
Furthermore, UNICEF calls the governments, businesses, and decision-makers to prioritize children and young people in climate funding and resources. Adaptation and resilience building remains critically underfunded and yet saves and protects lives.
Also read: UNICEF reports life-threatening malnutrition in Sudan
