Climate change

May 2023

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 countries, rising sea levels and temperatures are already putting stress on the ecosystem – affecting where people can safely live and grow food. And while children are the least responsible for the changing environment, they are likely to bear the greatest burden now and in future.

IPCC reports show that if levels of greenhouse gases continue to rise, global temperatures will also increase leading to more extreme weather events in many parts of the world. The UNICEF Children’s Climate Risk Index showed that we are crossing key boundaries in the Earth’s natural system, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and increasing levels of pollution in the air, soil, water and oceans. As a result, the climate crisis is creating a child’s rights crisis. It is creating a water crisis, a health crisis, an education crisis, a protection crisis and a participation crisis.