UNICEF Photograph:(Reuters)
New York, US
In a new report, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) indicated that in the next 28 years climate change-induced heat waves will become an unavoidable hazard and are set to affect virtually every child on earth. Reportedly, today it affects at least half a billion young people.
The report titled, âThe coldest year of the rest of their livesâ, which was released on Tuesday, shows how by 2050 more than two billion children will be exposed to âmore frequent, longer lasting, and more severeâ heatwaves. It also underlines that young children face a greater risk when compared to adults in an extreme heat event.
According to UNICEF, at least 559 million children will witness at least four to five dangerous heat waves per year but this number is expected to reach more than two billion children by 2050 even if we manage to keep the temperature 1.7 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial levels. They have also attributed this to how a young person is less able to regulate their body temperature during such an event.
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This inability also makes them more vulnerable to health issues including, chronic respiratory conditions, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases said the report. Furthermore, intense heat can lead to drought which would also hinder access to clean drinking water and lead to food insecurity and consequently stunt development in children and force families to migrate.
According to Vanessa Nakate, UNICEFâs goodwill ambassador, âThe more frequent, longer lasting and more severe heat waves children are exposed to, the greater the impacts on health, safety, nutrition, education, access to water and future livelihoods.â The climate activist also noted how the children, âwho are least responsible for climate change are bearing its biggest costsâ.
Nakate added, âUnless world leaders at Cop27 take action to correct the course we are on, heatwaves will become even harsher than they are already destined to be.â This report also comes ahead of the UN Cop 27 which is set to take place on November 6.
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âThe climate crisis is a child rights crisisâ, said Catherine Russell, executive director of UNICEF, giving the examples of wildfires and heat waves swept through India, Europe, and North America earlier this year she said that climate change is already taking a âdevastating toll on childrenâs lives and futures.â
Therefore, the report has called on countries and governments from across the world for â protecting children from climate devastation by adapting social services; preparing children to live in a climate-changed world; prioritizing children and young people in climate finance and resources; preventing a climate catastrophe by drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions and keep 1.5 degrees Celsius alive.
(With inputs from agencies)