AR6 - Disproportionate impacts of climate change on children and relevant policy solutions

Summary

This presentation highlights the disproportionate impact of climate change on children, emphasizing their vulnerability to extreme weather events, health risks, and disrupted education. The speaker, a coordinating lead author for the IPCC AR6 reports, outlines how the IPCC has increasingly focused on the issues facing children, with a particular emphasis on adaptation and mitigation strategies. They discuss the urgent need for intergenerational action, including youth engagement, systemic change, and climate resilient development. The importance of embedding environmental education and cultural leadership in solutions is also underscored, with a focus on vulnerable populations in urban and indigenous communities.

Takeaways

• 😀 The IPCC's AR6 reports have increasingly highlighted the disproportionate impacts of climate change on children and youth, though the references are spread across multiple sections.
• 😀 The 2022 IPCC adaptation report contains over 400 references to children, emphasizing the significant vulnerability of young people to climate change.
• 😀 The 2023 synthesis report, while only referencing children 14 times, stresses the urgent need for effective and equitable mitigation and adaptation actions to protect current and future generations.
• 😀 Children born in 2020 will face significantly higher climate risks, including a four-fold increase in extreme weather events by 2100 under a 1.5°C warming scenario.
• 😀 Climate change disproportionately affects children's health, with higher risks of pre-term birth, low birth weight, stillbirth, and malnutrition, especially in vulnerable regions like Africa and Asia.
• 😀 Climate change poses threats to children's education, disrupting school attendance due to extreme weather events and related issues like flooding and water shortages.
• 😀 Climate change impacts are magnified in urban areas, where the majority of children will live by 2050, especially in informal settlements exposed to flooding, heat stress, and water scarcity.
• 😀 Engagement with young people in climate action is increasingly recognized as a catalyst for more effective and equitable governance, with youth-driven movements influencing climate policy.
• 😀 The IPCC reports call for greater investment in adaptation plans, highlighting the uneven progress in addressing climate risks for young people and low-income populations.
• 😀 Climate resilient development, which integrates mitigation and adaptation efforts, is essential for achieving long-term sustainability, particularly through partnerships with youth, women, and marginalized communities.

Q & A

What is the central focus of the speaker's address?

The central focus of the speaker's address is the disproportionate impacts of climate change on children and youth, and the need for relevant policy solutions. The speaker also discusses the role of children and young people in climate action and the importance of considering their vulnerabilities in climate change reports.

How does the IPCC report address the impact of climate change on children?

The IPCC has increasingly focused on the impacts of climate change on children, with significant references in its reports, particularly in the 2022 adaptation report. It highlights children’s health vulnerabilities, the risk of extreme weather events, and disruptions to education and access to basic services.

What are the key health risks associated with climate change for children?

Key health risks for children include higher rates of pre-term birth, low birth weight, stillbirth, neonatal stress, and developmental deficiencies. Additionally, climate change exacerbates malnutrition and undernutrition, particularly in regions like Africa and Asia, which directly impact child health and mortality.

How do extreme weather events affect children’s education?

Extreme weather events like hurricanes and flooding disrupt children’s education by damaging schools, delaying classes, and affecting access to learning materials. In some regions, water shortages also cause early school closures, leading to the loss of several weeks of education.

What does the IPCC report suggest about the future exposure of children to climate change?

Children born in 2020 are expected to face a four-fold increase in extreme events by 2100 under a 1.5°C global warming scenario, or a five-fold increase under a 3°C warming scenario. These impacts will be far greater than what older generations will experience.

What role do youth movements play in addressing climate change according to the speaker?

Youth movements have become a significant force in advocating for systemic change, raising awareness, and influencing climate policies. Their involvement has helped shape climate governance and advocacy, with young people pushing for higher ambition and accountability in climate actions.

How can engaging youth in climate policy decision-making impact outcomes?

Engaging youth in climate policy decision-making has been shown to result in more effective and equitable climate governance. When young people’s voices are heard, it can influence political support for climate mitigation, foster local adaptation solutions, and drive more inclusive policies.

What are some recommended actions to address the climate vulnerabilities faced by children?

Recommended actions include developing adaptation plans that focus on children’s health, education, and well-being. It is also essential to prioritize gender-sensitive policies, promote climate-resilient development, and engage marginalized groups such as youth, women, and indigenous communities in the decision-making process.

How does the urban environment relate to climate change impacts on children?

Urban areas, where more than half of the world’s population lives, exacerbate climate risks such as heat stress, flooding, and water scarcity, which disproportionately affect children. By 2050, almost 70% of the world’s children will live in urban areas, many in informal settlements, making these areas a priority for climate resilience efforts.

What are some examples of successful interventions to support children in vulnerable communities?

Successful interventions include integrating cultural leadership with climate recovery strategies in displaced indigenous communities, especially those from the Pacific. Additionally, ensuring access to health, education, and water services in urban and rural areas has shown positive impacts on children’s well-being.