Children set for far more natural disasters than their grandparents
Children born today will suffer many times heat waves, floods, droughts and wildfires than their grandparents.
Save the Children in collaboration with an international team of climate researchers led by the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) disclosed the distressing message in a research report titled "Born in a climate crisis: Why we must act now to protect children's rights" on September 27, said a press release.
The research shows that children born today exposed 7 times more heat waves, 2.6 times more drought, 2.8 times more floods, 3 times more to loss of crops and double the number of devastating fires during their lifetime compared to those born in 1960.
The impacts of climate change can disrupt access to health care and education, as is the case for girls affected by gender inequalities, displaced or refugee populations, disabled children and indigenous people.
Save the Children releases the data through an international online event "Children and Youth Voices on the Climate Crisis" on the eve of the international meetings PRE-COP26 and "Youth4Climate: Driving Ambition" hosted by Italy in Milan from September 28 to October 2.
Roberto Cingolani, Italian minister for Ecological Transition, Saber Hossain Chowdhury, president of parliamentary standing committee on Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry of Bangladesh and young activists between 12 and 18 years old from Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America for an intergenerational dialogue on the issues of the global climate crisis were present in the event.
Participants asked the leaders for the participation of girls and boys in decision-making processes that affect their future.
Saber Hossain Chowdhury said, "The countries of Asia whether it is Nepal, Pakistan or Bangladesh have had the least contribution to climate change where we are the worst sufferers. So the whole issue of climate justice comes in here."
Aruba, climate activist from Bangladesh joined the event and said, "Leaders must listen to us. We require their support and action immediately."
The organization stressed that the commitments made so far for the reduction of emissions under the Paris Agreement would lead to an increase in global temperature from 2.6 to 3.1 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with an unacceptable impact on children.
The report highlighted that it is possible to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees as sanctioned by the objective of the Paris Agreement.