The Perils Of A Warming Planet: How Climate Change Threatens Our Children’s Health And Well-Being

By Paison Tazvivinga And Tafadzwa Chakauya Climate change is not a distant threat but a present reality that is already affecting the lives and well-being of millions of children around the world. From extreme weather events to rising sea levels, from air pollution to food insecurity, from infectious diseases to mental stress, the impacts of climate change are diverse and far-reaching. And they are not distributed equally: the most vulnerable and marginalised children are the ones who bear the brunt of the crisis. According to a recent report by UNICEF, almost every child on Earth is exposed to at least one of these climate and environmental hazards. About 1 billion children face a very high danger from the climate crisis, suffering from various climate disasters and lacking basic services like water, sanitation and health care.