Climate Change
The problem
Climate change is changing children. It is impacting almost every aspect of child health and well-being from pregnancy to adolescence.
The climate-related hazards that place the greatest burdens on children are floods and storms, droughts, extreme heat, wildfires, air pollution and ecosystem change. Over the past six years, weather-related disasters have displaced 43.1 million children in 44 countries, destroying critical infrastructure, crops, and disrupting water supplies. As a result, these climate shocks and stresses will lead to increased adverse health outcomes in children, such as higher rates of pregnancy and birth-related complications, non-communicable diseases, malnutrition, injuries, infectious diseases, and poor psychosocial well-being.
Research compiled in a new report, A threat to progress: Confronting the effects of climate change on child health and wellbeing, outlines impacts on children. For example, extreme heat increases the odds of stillbirth and pre-term birth by 5 per cent for every 1°C rise in temperature. Wildfire smoke, with each 1 mg/m³ increment of PM2.5, raises child mortality risk by 2.3 per cent, with larger fires causing greater toxicity. Air pollution is linked to 15 per cent of child mortality, 26 per cent of newborn mortality and one-third of pre-term births. Flooding and droughts can increase child undernutrition. Ecosystem changes have led to a 10-fold increase in dengue cases worldwide, with the highest incidence and most severe symptoms occurring in children and adolescents.
The impact of climate-related hazards on child health is multiplied by how climate-related hazards affect food and water security and contamination, damage infrastructure, disrupt services and drive displacement. In addition, the severity of these impacts is worsened by underlying vulnerabilities of children.
1 billion
nearly half of the world’s children live in extremely high-risk countries exposed to climate change.
We suffer the most. Children have dreams about the future, but they are losing their hope because of climate change... It is absolutely important to take into account children's health when tackling these issues because the climate crisis is also a health public crisis.
Francisco, 14, UNICEF Child Advocate
Unique vulnerabilities of children across their life
Pregnant women, newborns and children face distinct risks from climate change-related health impacts, due to a host of physiological, psychosocial and behavioural factors and dependence on caregivers.
- Pregnancy: Pregnant women have weakened immune systems and reduced lung capacities. They experience hormonal changes, which can result in increased susceptibility to heat. The growing fetus is exposed to physical, biological, and chemical agents through what the mother eats and drinks. Additionally, physiological and lifestyle changes can impact mental health and stress levels.
- Infancy and Childhood: Infants and young children, with their rapidly developing immune systems, organs, and brains, are highly vulnerable to environmental hazards. They breathe more air and consume more food and liquids per unit of weight, increasing their exposure to toxins. Their higher internal heat, compromised thermal regulation, larger surface area-to-mass ratio, and thinner skin also affect heat regulation.
- Adolescence: Adolescents undergo physical and hormonal changes from puberty, have higher metabolism causing them to eat and drink more, and face identity formation challenges influenced by their developing brains, such as impulse control. They are also vulnerable to increased mental stress from peer, academic, and social pressures.
- Pregnancy: Pregnant women may experience restricted physical activity and those working outdoors are at higher risk of exposure to climate hazards and pollutants like air pollution.
- Infancy and Childhood: Infants and children are more likely to put their hands in their mouths and eat non-food items, as well as spend more time closer to the ground and outdoors. They are also less able to communicate their needs or understand guidance.
- Adolescence: Adolescents are more likely to be outdoors and take risks, which can potentially expose them to more hazards and pollutants.
- Pregnancy: Pregnant women may require support to access nutritious food, clean water and other physical and mental health needs, which in turn can affect fetal development.
- Infancy and childhood: Infants and young children are highly dependent on others for their survival and are especially vulnerable when separated from caregivers, such as during disasters. They are also dependent on their peer and community networks, and on caregivers preventing increased exposure due to the caregiver's lifestyle, such as using poor cooking technologies and energy sources indoors without ventilation.
- Adolescence: Adolescents, especially in early adolescence, rely on caregivers as well as peer and community networks for their mental health and well-being.
The health impact is severe and can last a life time
A threat to progress: Confronting the effects of climate change on child health and wellbeing
UNICEF in 2024 published a global 'stock take' of the latest evidence on how the most concerning climate-related hazards are affecting child survival, health and well-being. This report also provides key recommendations for how children can be protected going forward.
Calls to action
Without urgent acceleration of mitigation and scaling up of adaptation efforts, current and future generations of children will continue to bear the brunt of climate change, impacting their survival, lifelong health, and well-being. We must take action today to:
Reduce emissions to meet 1.5°C degree threshold ensuring the best interest of the child
Urgent ambitious mitigation actions are needed from high-income countries to reduce emissions and provide support to low- and-middle income countries in their energy transition. This includes prioritizing: child health co-benefits; universal access to cleaner energy and technologies for cooking; transition to sustainable energy; climate education promoting active mobility and sustainable diets; and integrating detoxification strategies.
Protect children from the impact of climate change
Adaptation actions should urgently equip caregivers and service providers with the information and skills they need to protect children; strengthen climate-resilient primary health care to ensure the continuity of essential maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and nutrition services; safeguard access to nutritious food and safe water; improve preparedness and response to environmental hazards and implement child-sensitive social protection measures.
Prioritize child health and well-being in climate policy, investment and action
Climate action must centre on the impact on child health and well-being, ensuring targeted strategies are implemented to protect children’s health, safety and future. Specific actions and investments are needed to generate local data, prioritizing child-focused vulnerability assessments, addressing gaps in research, and fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration to bridge knowledge-to-action gaps on children’s environmental health, including with the participation of children and youth.
Related resources
Generation Plastic: Tips for families and caregivers
