On World Children's Day.. How does the climate crisis affect children?

2024-11-20 2024-11-20T09:16:00Z

Arab Weather - Climate change affects everyone, but it weighs especially heavily on children, even though they are the least responsible for causing it. Every child in the world today faces at least one climate event a year, such as hurricanes or heat waves.

More than half of the world’s children – over a billion children – are at high risk from climate-related disasters. Children born in 2020 are expected to experience, on average, 2 to 7 times more extreme weather and climate events than their grandparents.

These challenges deepen inequalities in children’s lives and threaten their basic rights, especially those living in poverty. Many are forced from their homes, into early marriage, forced labour or even involved in armed conflict.

Drought destroys crops and exacerbates hunger, while floods destroy schools, depriving children of education and affecting their health through the spread of waterborne diseases.

Continue reading or explore the real impact of climate change on children.

Floods and droughts: a constant threat to children

Around the world, about 1.2 billion children live in areas at risk of severe flooding, drought or other climate-related threats. The majority of these children’s families depend on agriculture as their primary source of livelihood, especially in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

As temperatures continue to rise, floods and droughts become more frequent and severe, damaging agricultural land and directly impacting children’s ability to survive, learn and feel safe.

Afsa's Story: The Power of Childhood in the Face of Disaster

Afsa, 9, lives with her family in a village in Sylhet, Bangladesh, an area known to be highly vulnerable to climate change due to frequent flooding.

In 2022, a devastating flood hit Afsa’s home, preventing her from going to school and making her and her siblings sick. Afsa describes this period:

“We suffered a lot during the flood. The children couldn’t even play.”

Despite her young age, Afsa showed amazing courage, as she teamed up with her brother to rescue as many animals as possible using a boat. She proudly said:

"I love chicken so much, that's why I did it."

During the crisis, her mother, Roli, received emergency financial support from Save the Children’s Sochana project. The money helped them buy more ducks and repair their home, helping them recover from the floods.

Afsa's story highlights the struggles of children and their families in the face of climate change, but it also reflects their strength and will to overcome adversity.

Drought in Guatemala: Continued suffering for families

Walmar's story

Walmar lives with his family in the Dry Corridor, a region of Guatemala that is experiencing severe drought and is considered one of the areas most affected by climate change. Guatemala is ranked among the 10 countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change worldwide. Changing weather patterns and reduced rainfall have made it difficult for families to grow the crops they depend on.

Maria, Walmar's mother, says:

“When I was young, my father grew corn that grew very tall and didn’t need fertilizer. Now we can’t grow anything.”

Walmar's parents used to farm crops to make a living, but climate change and severe drought have made farming almost impossible.

Supporting Hope Amidst Drought

To overcome these challenges, the Walmar family received cash transfers from Save the Children, enabling them to buy food during the summer when farming was not possible.

Maria says about this experience:

“The children were so excited to go with me to the market to buy food, running around happily.”

These cash transfers helped the family meet their basic needs, such as food, invest in their livelihoods, and secure a better future for their children.

Walmar's story is a grim reality, but it highlights the importance of humanitarian aid in mitigating the effects of climate change on the most affected communities.

Tropical Storms: A Great Danger to Children's Lives

Tropical storms are powerful weather systems that bring strong winds and heavy rains, making them destructive and dangerous. These storms not only threaten lives, but also cause flooding, severe storms, damaging winds, and tornadoes.

Children are the most vulnerable to the effects of tropical storms, as they can be easily swept away by floods, or be fatally injured by collapsing buildings or flying debris. In addition, children may be unable to swim or vulnerable to the force of water currents.

These storms also cause waterborne diseases, which harm children's health and hinder their ability to learn and grow.

Cyclones in Vanuatu: Lee Roy's Story

In March 2023, Lee Rui, 15, and his family faced the impact of two tropical cyclones, Jody and Kevin, in Vanuatu, a Pacific island vulnerable to climate change.

Roy told me about the damage done to his community:
“There were a lot of leaks in the houses and roofs were falling in, our toilet shed was destroyed and the road was made unusable because of fallen tree branches.”

Lee Roy and his friend Rachel see the need to tackle climate change to ensure a better future for their community, helping clean up trash and plant mangrove trees along the coast to mitigate the impact of rising sea levels.

Heat waves: a threat to health and education

As global temperatures rise, heat waves threaten children’s health and education opportunities. Children affected by poverty and discrimination suffer the most from the effects of extreme heat.

According to the report “Born into the Climate Crisis” by Save the Children and the Free University of Brussels, children born in 2020 will experience seven times more heatwaves than their grandparents.

Heatwaves in Zambia: Justina's Story

Justina, 16, lives with her family in Lusaka, Zambia, and sees the increasing impact of heatwaves on her community. The extreme heat causes food to spoil and diseases like diarrhea to spread, preventing many children from going to school.

Justina says:
“A lot of children are suffering from diarrhea and are not going to school. It is very hot, and the food is spoiling, which causes illness.”

Even education has been affected, with students fainting from the heat, including Justina herself.

"I fainted on Monday, and my girlfriend did on Friday. It's really bad."

Justina hopes that her community can address these challenges by raising awareness, planting trees, and using public transportation, to secure a better future for generations to come.

Child Care in the Face of Climate Change

Climate change requires special attention for children, who are most vulnerable to its harmful effects on health, education and safety. Floods and droughts expose them to hunger and disease, while tropical storms directly threaten their lives. Heat waves also reduce their educational and health capabilities.

To ensure a better future for them, local and international efforts must come together to provide immediate support such as cash assistance, environmental education, and strengthening communities’ ability to adapt to climate change. Protecting children today means securing tomorrow’s leaders and stronger communities in the future.