Protecting children in
a changing climate
Climate change is endangering and threatening children’s futures
Climate change seriously affects children’s access to health, food, water, clean air, and education, The growing number of extreme weather events globally is putting more children’s lives in danger. Every year, environmental factors take the lives of 1.7 million children under five.
These events mean a reduced chance of a happy, healthy future for so many children. When floods hit, schools and health clinics are destroyed. When droughts occur, children spend less time in school because they must walk miles to collect water. Rising sea levels and toxic air pollution turn children’s communities into hazardous environments to grow up in.
These aren’t issues that can wait and we are working tirelessly to help solve them right now.
Mozambique, 2022. 13-year-old Mariano stands in front of her school, which was destroyed by Cyclone Gombe. The cyclone caused widespread flooding, forcing thousands of people from their homes.
UNICEF/Franco
Help protect children from the effects of climate change
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1 billion children are at extremely high risk to the impacts of climate change.
Protecting and empowering children in the face of climate change
Solving these issues is central to our mission to realise the rights of every child – especially the most at risk. We respond rapidly to natural disasters, ensuring children receive the care, supplies and protection that could save their lives. We are committed to providing a safe environment for every child to grow up in.
But children deserve more. With the right support they can be empowered to become agents of change who can shape their own future. That’s why we are ensuring communities have access to green technologies and why we are promoting the use of sustainable energy.
Help us build a more sustainable future for children
Donate nowEnsuring children are heard in the fight for their environment
Children everywhere have the right to have a say in their future and we’re fighting for their right to be heard. In the UK we’ve campaigned for children’s right to breathe clean air, lobbying the government to reduce toxic air levels. In Zambia, child-led advocacy programme Unite4Climate is empowering children to become climate ambassadors.
We fight to make sure children’s voices are central in high-level discussions about climate and the environment. We use our strong influence to work with governments in 190 countries striving to ensure that they stick to their climate and environment goals and help them to develop even more ambitious programmes that better protect children.
Support UNICEF and help us build a more sustainable future for children
By supporting UNICEF you can help protect children from the effects of climate change, fight for their voices to be heard and build a sustainable future.
