Climate Crisis Worsens Filipino Children's Anxiety

Filipino children rank 31st on the Children's Climate Risk Index as the world's most vulnerable children to climate change. Children in the Philippines are particularly vulnerable to coastal flooding and tropical cyclones, as the country is hit by at least 20 typhoons each year.

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Additionally, Aruta and Simon's (2022) study on climate anxiety in Filipino children discovered that the Philippines had the highest level of extreme climate anxiety in the world, with Filipino children experiencing psychological distress as a result of climate crises.

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Typhoons Yolanda and Rolly killed hundreds of people in the Philippines and destroyed thousands of homes and livelihoods. Thus, climate change jeopardizes not only children's physical environment, but also their rights to health, education, safety, and welfare, as well as their right to play and recreation.

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Additionally, the number of scorching heat waves, river flooding, droughts, and crop failures will all increase for children born in the Philippines in 2020 relative to their grandparents or people born 60 years ago.

Save the Children has launched the Red Alert Campaign, which advocates for increased climate finance to assist vulnerable communities in preparing for crises and assisting poorer countries in managing unavoidable consequences.

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This campaign helps UNICEF achieve its goal of increasing investment in climate adaptation and resilience in critical children's services, as well as providing children with climate change education and skills necessary for preparing for the effects of climate change.

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According to Aruta and Simon's (2022) study, the Philippine government should incorporate climate anxiety into its universal health-care agenda and provide psychological first aid to vulnerable children and adolescent survivors of natural disasters.

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To aid in the fight against climate change, Plan International organizes environmental training sessions for Filipino children and youth. While implementing projects such as tree planting and beach cleanup, they are also educating children and adults about climate change and how to combat it.