Climate Change Poses Threat to the Future Generation

Changes in our climate have led to negative effects in our environment throughout the years. This shifting poses a big threat to us living on earth, but more so to the future generations who are yet to experience it. Since climate change heavily affects the environment, this may result in environmental hazards such as severe drought and flooding, shortage of water supply, air pollution – all of which harm the children’s overall health.

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According to UNICEF, the year 2020 was the hottest year ever recorded. “Approximately 1 billion children are at an 'extremely high risk' of the impacts of the climate crisis.” – this emphasizes how this number will go up if no urgent actions are being done to address climate change. Filipino children were ranked as the 31st most vulnerable based on children’s exposure and vulnerability to climate and environmental shocks, given that the Philippines is highly exposed to coastal floods and tropical cyclones.

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There are still efforts and strategies being done to mitigate the risk of having negative effects brought about by climate change. UNICEF has been continuously calling on governments and businesses to increase their investments in climate adaptation and resilience in key services for children, reduce the emission of greenhouse gasses, providing children with climate education and green skills, including the youth on international climate negotiations, and ensuring the recovery from COVID-19 pandemic is green and low-carbon. Collective efforts not only from the government but from us as well, will help reduce the risk of children bearing the burden of hunger and malnutrition caused by climate change.