Nearly half of the world’s children are at 'extremely high risk' of the impacts of climate change, according to a new report by the United Nations children’s fund.
The UNICEF report, called 'The Climate Crisis Is a Child Rights Crisis: Introducing the Children’s Climate Risk Index', ranks countries based on children’s vulnerability to various environmental shocks.
It's found over one billion of the world's 2.2 billion children live in countries classified as 'high risk'.
The launch of the report coincides with the third anniversary of the youth-led global climate strike movement.
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg says environmental hazards don't just affect the future, but also the present.
"Children are the ones who are most impacted by this crisis and who will suffer the most from its consequences, even though we are not the ones who have caused it,” Ms Thunberg said at the launch of the report.
“We are not just victims - we are also leading the fight against it, but we also need your help. When we talk about children we must remember the people in power are not just stealing the future from children, they are also stealing the present from many people all around the world, especially people from the most-affected areas," she added.
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg Source: AFP
Using high-resolution geographical data, the report looks at what proportion of the world's children live in areas that experience multiple, overlapping climate and environmental hazards.
Thirty-three countries are classified as extremely high-risk. Several in Africa - the Central African Republic, Chad, Nigeria, Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau - are classified as most at-risk.
Along with environmental shocks, vulnerability is also measured by access to essential services.
Nkosilathi Nyathi is from an agricultural community in Zimbabwe. Joining Ms Thunberg at the launch of the report, he said climate change is more than just a topic of discussion - it's the reality of his daily life.
"It’s more than a subject. I live climate change. I come from an agricultural-based society. Due to the unpredictability and uncertainty of these weather patterns we are struggling to decide which crops to grow," he said.
"If the weather continues like this it could lead to a serious food crisis in my community."
The report calls for more investment in critical services such as sanitation, water and hygiene systems for those in the most vulnerable countries.
Children in a traditional thooli , or cradle, at a cyclone-affected village in Kokilamedu, Tamil Nadu Source: UNICEF/UN0375427/Krishnan
It also calls for targeted education for children, looking specifically at how they can best prepare for a future where climate change is a reality.
Report co-author and UNICEF Policy Specialist in climate Nick Rees said action is needed because these multiple overlapping shocks will have a profound long-term effect on the physical health of children.
He added that children are also physiologically more vulnerable.
“Toxic substances such as lead and other forms of pollution impact children more than adults, even at lower doses of exposure," he said.
"They're more at risk compared to adults from diseases that are likely to be exacerbated by climate change, such as malaria and dengue. Studies show that nearly 90 per cent of the global burden of disease associated with climate change is borne by children under five."
The report also reveals a disconnect between the countries where greenhouse gas emissions are generated, and where children are suffering most from these emissions.
It finds 10 of the highest-emitting countries together account for nearly 70 per cent of global emissions, with only one of these countries ranked as high-risk on the index.
Australia sits at number 16 when it comes to emissions, while ranking 121 in the corresponding climate risk index.
Mr Rees said while Australia does have a lot of challenges with bushfires and droughts, these are generally mitigated by better access to key services.
But that's not the case for every child - especially Indigenous children and those living in rural and regional areas.
"While Australia ranks fairly well on the index, not all children in Australia are able to access the health and education and water and sanitation services that are needed to make them more resilient to the impacts of climate change," he said.
Jacob Gamble works as a Young Ambassador for UNICEF Australia.
Jacob Gamble visiting Parliament House as a Young Ambassador for UNICEF Australia Source: Supplied
As part of a team, he consulted with over 3,000 children and young people across 178 different schools on their attitudes to climate change.
That social research found two-thirds of those interviewed see climate change as a massive concern and want more action by governments and industry.
"I think it really points to the fact that we need to integrate more intergenerational equality into the conversation about climate change. And also this report should be sounding alarms for the government at the moment, I think there really needs to be much more ambition when it comes to these policies so we can ensure that children and young people aren't put into these extremely dangerous and susceptible situations," he said.
UNICEF Australia wants the Australian government to invest more money in climate adaptation and resilience in key services for children.
NSW Rural Fire Service crews fight the Gospers Mountain Fire as it impacts a structure at Bilpin Source: AAP
It also wants to see domestic disaster policy strengthened and more involvement by children and young people in the decision-making process in this area.
Mr Gamble said investment in renewable energy is also key.
"I'd like to see a renewed focus on intergenerational equality as central to the climate change policies and ambitions. And I also want to see more increased investment in renewable energy, because at the moment it doesn't feel like this is a priority at all for the government,” he said.
The comes months ahead of the November 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow.
