Climate change

Go deeper and learn more about the 2024 Leading Minds conference on climate action, with this series of publications: Discover youth insights on climate change and breakthrough solutions, read their stories of potential futures centred on climate, and dive into 12 thought-provoking opinion pieces written by UNICEF Innocenti's Leading Minds Fellows…, How is climate change creating new barriers to inclusion?  What are the systemic barriers to accelerating climate action?   Loss and damage caused by climate change is no longer just theoretical. The loss of land, livelihoods, cultural heritage or even lives is already happening. And despite being the least responsible for causing the climate…, Eco-literacy, climate education and green skilling, What are the barriers to accelerating and scaling climate education strategies and approaches that will move the needle in accelerating climate action? Or is another paradigm shift needed to address the challenges that we face today?    If children and young people are going to be prepared for climate shocks, contribute to building a world that is…, Equity in energy transition, What are the barriers hindering investment of the private sector in a people-centered, fair, equitable and just transition and how can these be overcome?    In the past decade, remarkable progress has been made in transitioning to renewable energy. But that transition is more often driven by short-term gains and corporate interests than it is the…, Climate justice, What are some of the systemic barriers that do not allow children and young people to demand climate justice?  What paradigm shift is needed in order for transformative change to happen in the climate justice space?   Children are uniquely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. That’s one of the reasons that climate change is one of the…, Climate finance, What are the key systemic barriers in investing in climate action for children and how can they be overcome?  unep.org | Adaptation Gap Report 2023 According to the United Nations Environment Programme , the adaptation finance needs of developing countries are 10-18 times as big as international public finance flows – that’s over 50 per cent…, Governance, In what ways can the integration of youth perspectives enhance the responsiveness and effectiveness of governance models in addressing climate change and what are barriers that hindering this integration?  Young minds bring fresh perspectives, unbridled enthusiasm and a deep stake in the future, making their input crucial in crafting solutions…, U N I C E F I N N O C E N T I G L O B A L O F F I C E O F R E S E A R C H A N D F O R E S I G H T M AY 2 0 2 4 Emerging Horizons: Youth Insights on Climate Change and Breakthrough Solutions 2024 LEADING MINDS ON CLIMATE ACTION 1 Background Background Children and young people care deeply about the planet and creating a sustainable future. However…

Record heat blanketed nytimes.com | Phoenix Breaks Record With 19 Consecutive Days 110 Degrees or Higher much of the globe in the Summer of 2023. The planet is already ipcc.ch | s Climate Change 2021 1.1˚C hotter compared to the average temperature in 1850–1900 . Hot extremes including heat waves have become more frequent and intense since the…, The cooling conundrum, Excessive heat poses thelancet.com | The 2021 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: code red for a healthy future severe health risks , including heat-related illnesses and fatalities. In the past 20 years, the annual average count of heat-related fatalities among individuals aged 65 and older surged by a iea.org |…, Implications for children, According to unicef.org | The coldest year of the rest of their lives UNICEF’s report on heatwaves , around 559 million children are exposed to high heatwave frequency, and around 624 million children are exposed to either high heatwave duration, severity, or extreme high temperatures. The number of heatwave days children experience have increased…

Climate change is already with us. The world is feeling its impacts every day, and none so more than the most vulnerable people in the world – children. The world’s most marginalized children are suffering displacement, malnutrition, the loss of education, the destruction of traditional ways of life and even death. Some of these destructive…, Put child rights at the heart of loss and damage finance, Child rights, as set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, should be at the core of all loss and damage financing decisions. All proposed loss and damage finance mechanisms, policies, budgets, and administrative decisions should also undergo child-rights impact assessments, to make sure that they have the best interest…, Meaningfully engage children in the funding process, Children should play an active role in the design, implementation, monitoring, and overall governance of the L&D Fund. They should be included as experts in their own right in discussions and decisions concerning action on loss and damage, because they are already suffering from its consequences. To enable their full and informed participation…, Consider children's specific needs and vulnerabilities, The policies and guidelines of loss and damage finance mechanisms should explicitly consider children’s capacities and intersecting vulnerabilities, such as child poverty and inequality. They should recognize that these are experienced differently by different groups of children. Children’s self-identified needs and priorities should also be…, Provide accessible funding for children and their families, Loss and damage funding should be made available locally and should address children’s context-specific climate vulnerabilities. Funding allocation guidance and criteria should be shared in local languages and through culturally appropriate channels to ensure that children and their organizations have direct access to funding. Organisations…, Maintain accountability and ensure children’s access to justice, Children and children’s organizations must have access to effective grievance mechanisms and remedies if the activities of the L&D Fund or of other loss and damage financing violate children’s rights. Remedies may include resources to support the education, health, protection, and social protection of children affected by loss and damage. Loss…, Rebuild and recover essential services for children, Significant sums of money for loss and damage should be directed at child-critical social services - including education, health, nutrition, child protection, social protection, and water, sanitation, and hygiene - to protect the most vulnerable children in high-risk locations and strengthen their resilience. Loss and damage finance should enable…

Prospects for Children in 2024: Cooperation in a Fragmented World is the latest edition of the Global Outlook, a series of reports produced each year by UNICEF Innocenti – Global Office of Research and Foresight, which look to the key trends affecting children and young people over the following 12 months and beyond., As we enter 2024, the world stands at a pivotal juncture. We can choose a path marked by increased global collaboration – a path that embraces innovation, knowledge sharing, policy transfer, and equitable growth. Or, there's a different course that could be taken, one which might entail less unity and a more protectionist approach, potentially…, 1. Geopolitical shifts and the risk of conflict may threaten children’s survival and well-being – but avenues for accountability and cooperation hold promise., In 2024, major powers will continue competing to expand their military, political, economic, and technological influence globally, including within multilateral institutions. Meanwhile, small and middle powers, including many in the Global South, are distancing themselves from confrontation between the major powers by forging new, flexible…, 2. Economic fragmentation threatens families’ livelihoods, children’s development and youth employment – but economic solidarity, market collaboration and investing in future skills can safeguard children’s rights and futures., Economic fragmentation, often driven by geopolitical interests and strategic considerations, is projected to widen disparities between nations in 2024. This unravelling of global economic integration threatens to undermine years of prosperity, progress, and innovation. It also adds fiscal pressure at a time when child poverty is rising in many…, 3. A fragmented multilateral system is not delivering on key issues for children – but it has a chance to reset its course in 2024 through global governance and financing reforms., The year 2024 will be pivotal for addressing a fragmented multilateral system that is failing on issues such as peace, security, climate change, financing for developing countries and the enforcement of normative standards – all of which can have an impact on children and their rights. Many countries, especially those in the Global South, believe…, 4. Developing economies still face structural inequities in the international financial architecture, limiting their ability to invest in children – but reforms to lending approaches and new technologies offer hope., Structural inequities in international financing will continue to limit developing countries’ investments in children in 2024. Excessive debt burdens, high remittance costs, overreliance on unpredictable economic monetary policies, and lack of voice in financial governance penalize poorer states. Debt crises triggered by these factors hurt…, 5. Global democracy will face unprecedented risks presented by disinformation and higher levels of political violence – but positive forces, including those led by children and youth, may still reverse the democratic decline., Democratic backsliding and youth dissatisfaction with democracy have been unfolding for years. But in 2024, as many nations face critical elections, two concerning trends emerge. First, advances in the digital technology for large language models and generative AI have introduced dangerous new disinformation capabilities that can create convincing…, 6. Fast-tracking transition to green energy is reshaping critical mineral and labour markets – if managed responsibly, cooperatively and justly, it can benefit children., In 2024, the accelerated transition to green energy will continue. This transition will be driven by volatility in energy markets, growth in the deployment of clean energy technology and policy imperatives like the development of new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). A faster shift to green energy brings significant benefits to children…, 7. El Niño, mosquito-borne diseases and water scarcity threaten children’s health and well-being – but greater collaboration, holistic programming and technological innovation can mitigate the negative impacts and protect children., Throughout 2024, climate change will continue to pose many threats to children’s health and nutrition. Three key forces stand out: the continuation of El Niño; the rise in outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases due to climate change; and water scarcity. The 2024 El Niño could be even hotter and more dangerous to people and the planet than in 2023.…, 8. Potential impacts of unchecked technologies spark fear and concern for children’s well-being – but proactive policy and global digital cooperation can place children at the centre of responsible design and regulation., The digital environment continues to shape children’s lives. Advances such as artificial intelligence (AI) bring new opportunities for children's learning, health care and development. Because new technology also poses risks for children, striking a regulatory balance will be a 2024 priority for three main reasons: First, apprehension about the…, Prospects for Children: Cooperation in a Fragmented World 2 0 2 4 G L O B A L O U T L O O K This document is interactive and designed for digital viewing. Please consider the environment and refrain from printing. Eight trends for 2024 Geopolitical shifts and the risk of conflict Economic fragmentation A fragmented multilateral system Structural…

The climate crisis portends catastrophic disruption to lives and livelihoods. However, many of the measures needed to address the crisis present important opportunity for economic development and the creation of new kinds of ethical and decent livelihoods. If young people are to participate in and benefit from these opportunities, they need the…

We are living in an era defined by three long-term challenges shaping the lives of children around the world. The first is the climate emergency. The second is the difficulty in separating fact from fabrication in the age of digital media. The third is the limited capacity of our political institutions to drive positive change in a globalized…, We encourage you to visit the changingchildhood.unicef.org Project's interactive microsite , designed especially for children and young adults to engage with the Project’s questions – including those posed in the survey – and to explore some of its key findings. For those who wish to delve further, research tools are open to the public., Research tools, Users who wish to dig deeper into the Project can download research tools below, including the methodology and codebook, survey questionnaire, and microdata. We would love to hear what you discover from your own analyses. If you have any questions or would like to tell us how you are using the Project, please email us at changing-childhood@unicef.…, The Changing Childhood Project: A multigenerational, international survey on climate change knowledge, information, trust and identity A Tumultuous World Through Childrens Eyes Summary of key findings The Changing Childhood Project, a survey-based collaboration between UNICEF and Gallup, was created to understand how children and young people view…

4 minute read The question, “Where are you from?” has historically been straightforward. “I’m from Cardiff, in Wales,” is my default reply. But where we are from is no longer tied merely to our postcode, the city we were born in, or the country listed on our passport. Rather than focusing solely on where we are from, there is now more emphasis on…

Our climate is changing. Temperatures are rising and devastating extremes of weather are becoming ever more common. The world has proved slow to respond, with mitigation plans falling far short of what is needed to preserve the planet. In the words of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres: “The state of the planet is broken”. We are…, Guiding Principles and climate mobility symposium, In order to shine a light on the plight of children on the move and to better understand how children and young people are affected by climate-related migration and displacement, UNICEF and the International Organization for Migration hosted a virtual symposium. Over two days in 2020, experts, policy makers and young people from around the world…, Background papers

Climate-related loss and damage – such as the loss of land, life, livelihoods or cultural heritage – is one of the greatest intergenerational injustices that children face today. It threatens the rights of current and future generations of children Despite being the least responsible for causing the climate crisis, the children of today and…

The climate crisis is a child rights crisis. Children are not mere bystanders of the world’s inaction on climate change; they live the consequences of it every day. Climate-induced emergencies force children from their homes, exposing them to abuse, trafficking and exploitation. Irregular and extreme weather patterns wreak havoc on crop production…, Related projects, Related reports, Related news, ideas and articles

This paper outlines how climate change can create specific gendered risks based on age and stage of the life course. Critical gendered risks for women that increase their vulnerability to climate shocks include: discriminatory social and gender norms; inadequate access to and control of assets and crucial resources; concentration in low-wage…

This report outlines the polycrisis in which the world finds itself — multiple, simultaneous shocks with strong interdependencies, intensified in an ever-more integrated world — along with eight trends that will shape child rights and well-being in the coming year. The trends explored are: The pandemic’s harms will continue to be counted — but…,   This webinar is a panel discussion of key trends impacting children and young people in 2023 and beyond. Participating speakers are: Deona Julary, UNICEF Youth Foresight Fellow Jacob Ellis, UNICEF Youth Foresight Fellow Peter Engelke, Deputy Director of Foresight, Scowcroft Strategy Initiative, Atlantic Council Jasmina Byrne, Chief, Foresight…, Prospects for Prospects for Children in Children in the Polycrisisthe PolycrisisA 2023 GLOBAL OUTLOOK PROSPECTS FOR CHILDREN IN 2023 About | 2 While preparing the third edition of our Global Outlook, we looked back at our previous reports to see what we did right, what we may have missed and what we could do better. We also looked beyond uNICEF to…