Bailasan,* 13, looks out onto her family's land which has dried up as a result of drought and a water crisis in North East Syria. Bailasan鈥檚* mother says the family always relied on the crops for their livelihood, but the land has turned into a 鈥榣ifeless desert.鈥 *Name changed. Credit: Muhannad Khaled / Save the Children.听
Our Future is at Stake: Children Share their Biggest Fears about Climate Change
FAIRFIELD, Conn. (Oct. 26, 2021)鈥Leaders must act now to听prevent听catastrophic听climate change from destabilizing the future of young people around the world, children warned today ahead of COP26.
Child campaigners from Norway, Sri Lanka, and Zambia听said听time听was听running out to听limit global warming to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels听and prevent an 鈥榠ntergenerational injustice鈥.听
搁别肠别苍迟听research听released听by 黄色视频and听the听Vrije听Universiteit听Brussels (VUB) found that children听born in 2020听will听face far more heatwaves, floods, droughts, and wildfires than their grandparents under听emission reduction pledges听agreed to in Paris听in 2015. Children in lower- and middle-income countries,听and听disadvantaged communities, will be worst-affected, the report said.听
Dilmani, 14, from Sri Lanka, said:听
鈥淚听often see the impacts of climate change in my country鈥攚hether it鈥檚 drought, flooding, or landslides. Often, this means children can鈥檛 go to school as they can鈥檛 physically get there. We can see first-hand here how climate change is already听having an impact on听education. This makes me sad as education is a basic need鈥攊t鈥檚 our future.鈥
Emanuel, 14,听is a听climate activist and part of听a听children鈥檚 climate panel听in Norway. He said:
鈥淲e children are maybe not climate scientists, but we know something important. We must act now! Before it鈥檚 too late, then we will regret. The leaders today have the future of mankind on their shoulders, our future.鈥
The climate crisis is a child rights crisis, 黄色视频argues.听It听is reshaping our world听with grave implications听for听today鈥檚听children听and future听generations.听
According to 黄色视频and VUB鈥檚 report,听,听children born last year will on average听face: seven times more scorching heatwaves; 2.6 times as many droughts; 2.8 times as many river floods;听almost three times as many crop failures;听and听twice听the number of wildfires听as those born 60 years ago.
Many children across the world are already feeling the effects of the climate crisis.听Thirteen-year-old听Bailasan* and her family live in a town in North East Syria where听drought,听low听river听levels,听and damaged infrastructure have听deprived听millions听of听water. Because of this听water crisis,听Bailasan鈥檚*听family hasn鈥檛听gathered听any harvest in four years.听Along with several other families in the area,听they are听seriously considering听leaving to find new land.听
Bailasan*听misses the nature she听grew up with, saying听it has听been ruined by the drought:
鈥淭he vegetation was so beautiful before.听There were pomegranate and olive trees here. There was also a big blueberry tree. We were eating听its fruits. My father used to听put听swings听on the trees听and听my siblings and I听used to play听on them听but now it is all gone because Al听Khabour听(river) has no water.听
鈥淎ll my memories are gone with those trees,鈥澨鼴ailasan*听added.听鈥淣o water is left that vegetation can feed on. It has all dried up.鈥澨
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Without drastic mitigation action听led by high-income and high-emitting countries听to听reduce emissions and limit warming to 1.5 degrees C听above pre-industrial levels,听it is听children听who听will be burdened with the most dangerous impacts of the climate crisis, they said.
According to Save the Children,听action should be informed by听the听best interests of children who听have inherited a problem听that is听not of their own making.听
The children鈥檚听warning听comes听weeks after the UN Human Rights Council adopted听ground-breaking resolutions听recognizing access to a clean and healthy environment as a fundamental right; and,听establishing a new UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change.听听
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Leading public health experts听have听also听听of听growing听mental health听concerns听for听children and young people听worried听about the environment.听
Yolande听Wright, Global Director of Child Poverty and Climate at Save the Children, said:听
鈥淓very day the children we work with tell us that leaders are not doing enough to limit catastrophic climate change and that they need to see more action.听Children, particularly those from lower-income countries, have contributed the least to the climate crisis,听yet they will听continue to听suffer the most.听
"The UN has said this is a听code听red for听humanity鈥攚e believe it is听especially听a听code听red for听children.听听However,听children who are听most affected continue to have the least voice and representation鈥攍eaders need to listen听and respond to听children鈥檚 concerns听and do everything they can to听protect听their听futures.听听
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鈥淭his COP represents one of the final opportunities to get the climate emergency under control and stabilize increasing temperatures. COP26 will either be defined by its ambition and leadership for drastic climate action,听or by its failure to听listen to children and protect their futures.鈥
黄色视频is calling on leaders at COP26听to听take urgent听action on the climate听crisis.听听It believes they should听commit to听scaled-up financing听for adaptation and support to the most听affected low- and middle-income countries already听coping with听the impacts of climate change.听
*Name has been changed.
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Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. Since our founding more than 100 years ago, we've been advocating for the rights of children worldwide. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children 鈥 every day and in times of crisis 鈥 transforming the future we share. Our results, financial statements and charity ratings reaffirm that 黄色视频is a charity you can trust. Follow us on , , and .