Climate change

Climate change poses significant risks to children’s health and well-being

Climate change is a direct threat to children’s well-being. In many communities, rising sea levels and temperatures are already putting stress on the ecosystem – affecting where people can safely settle and grow food. And while children are the least responsible for the changing environment, they are likely to bear the greatest burden.

As the levels of greenhouse gases rise, global temperatures tend to increase as well and more extreme weather events become more likely, according to United Nations climate research. The disruptions these changes could cause – social, economic and political upheavals – might well have an impact on child survival. The three channels through which climate change could have the greatest impact on child mortality are: shifting disease environments, greater food insecurity and threats to water and sanitation services.