Climate change and environment
Virtually every child on the planet is already affected by climate change. Natural disasters, environmental degradation, and biodiversity loss can devastate agriculture, cutting children off from nutritious foods and safe water. They can lead to dangerous environments and disease outbreaks, and destroy the safe shelter, quality health care and…, Our focus areas, Climate action, Social programmes for children need to adapt to a changing climate. We advocate for child-centred climate adaptation, resilience-building and child-sensitive climate policies, while mapping out children’s climate risk and supporting young climate champions. Learn more, Disaster risk reduction and recovery, Even before disaster strikes, children need measures that reduce their risks of harm and support a resilient recovery. We work on vulnerability mapping, multi-hazard early warning systems, comprehensive disaster-management strategies and post-disaster needs. We also help governments build their capacity to strengthen social services and…, Environmental action, Climate change and environmental degradation can be addressed for and with young people, through programmes for survival, health and well-being. We support local solutions that value biodiversity as well as nature-based solutions. And we act to protect children’s health from toxic metals, chemicals, hazardous waste, air pollution and other harmful…, Sustainable energy, A brighter life for every child begins with sustainable energy. We partner with the public and private sectors to advance clean, renewable and sustainable energy solutions. That includes areas like the vaccine cold chain, and programmes like solar water pumping. We help to electrify schools and health centres, and to enable community-level energy…, What we do, At UNICEF, our climate, disaster risk reduction, environment and energy activities aim to: Advocate with governments and business partners to put children and young people first in their sustainability plans, budgets and actions towards a green transition. Strengthen the resilience and continuity of social services to climate and environmental…, Our strategy and action plan, Delivering results cannot be achieved by UNICEF alone. Our Sustainability and Climate Change Action Plan 2023-2030 galvanizes a global commitment to ensure a sustainable world and to protect the most vulnerable children from the worst impacts of a changing climate and degrading environment. It outlines UNICEF’s organizational response to this…, Our advocacy, The investments we can make for children now will ensure that they survive, grow and thrive in the face of climate and environmental shocks. UNICEF advocates for these investments, while supporting young people with the education and skills they need to help make the world a greener place. Help us protect, prepare and prioritize every child for a…, Child-sensitive policies, UNICEF works to ensure that policies on climate, environment, energy and disaster risk reduction integrate children’s and young people’s views, concerns and solutions. Policies shape the world that the younger generation experiences today and will inherit in the future. In our climate change work, we support youth advocacy through tools and…, Multisectoral work, To ensure child-critical services are more inclusive, resilient to and prepared for disasters and climate change impacts, UNICEF works across the following sectors: Education, including climate resilience Health, including healthy environments ; Nutrition; Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), including climate-resilient WASH initiatives ;…, Engagement with young people, UNICEF works to elevate and empower children and young people to meaningfully participate in the decisions and actions that affect them. We work with them to develop child- and youth-friendly tools for climate action and give voice to young climate activists, innovators and entrepreneurs., Innovation, Protecting children from the effects of climate change and empowering them as agents of change require transformational solutions . UNICEF’s approach to climate innovation is aimed at finding such solutions to the most stubborn climate crisis challenges., Evidence generation, UNICEF is at the forefront of research, tools and analysis that governments rely on to plan and develop policy, and allocate investments towards the most vulnerable children. Among other pieces of evidence, we have developed: The Children’s Climate Risk Index (CCRI) The first comprehensive view of children’s exposure and vulnerability to the…, Inclusion, The impacts of climate disasters affect different children differently, based on their gender , age, disability, location or migration status . UNICEF works to include all children in climate and DRR decision-making so to they can be better prepared, protected, and resilient., Publications and resources
