The Earth’s climate has varied naturally throughout history, both as a result of external and internal climate drives. It is a change in regional and global climate patterns, including temperature change which in turn drives processes such as sea level change and varying weather patterns.

Climate change is a threat multiplier, in that it will exacerbates already existing threats to human security. This can be threats to economic or political security, such as political instability or resource security, particularly in the form of the depletion of resources.

“For the sakes of our children and our future, we must do more to combat climate change.”

-          Barack Obama

The climate change is not only about weather. The climate change is about the rights and future of people. The world is struggling with huge problems like poverty, conflict and discrimination. The dangers of climate change are more affected to children’s rather than then the adults.

The children already suffering the of health impacts related to climate change. According to the report of WHO, estimate that 80% of the illness, injuries and death occurs especially in children due to climate change. The change in climate puts the basic rights of the children at risk and seriously affecting their health, food, water, clean air, education and protection. Around the world, the increase number of extreme weather events are more and more dangerous to children lives. Every year about 1.7 million children (under five) lives affected by environmental factor. 

According to report of 2000, roughly 3 to 10% the climate change increased the number of malnutrition, diarrheal diseases and vector borne diseases such as malaria. The climate change is caused by both natural and man-made activities such as burning of fossil fuels and deforestation and that activities increase the number of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. According to Intergovernmental Panel (2007), the human is changing the climate.

The Climate Change affects the Children:

·         The children are more vulnerable to climate change such as the heat waves, especially infants and athletes.

·         The extreme weather conditions such as severe storms, floods or wildfires not only directly threaten the lives and safety of children but they put them at risk of problems mental health and it also create effects when they destroy their communities and their schools.

·         The poor air quality from climate change can cause many respiratory problems especially in children with asthma.

·         The climate change also led to increase in infectious diseases that often more dangerous to children than the adults i.e.: Lyme disease, diarrhea, parasites etc.

·         In some parts of the world, the climate change has led to food scarcity and then ultimately has less healthy food.

·         Also the not availability of clean water in some part of the world due to climate change, it ultimately affects the children health.

The continuous change in climate:

But if the climate change continuous it will effect on our children as they grow into adults. They will live in a world with:

·         Unhealthier air

·         Few species of animals and plants

·         Less food and water

·         As the sea rises, less availability of land

·         Migration of people try to find a safe and healthy place to live.

The current policies and the measure to prevent the climate-sensitive health outcomes not the current impacts but it also prevents them from future climate change. If we save our future generation and maintain our children’s health we must pay attention in climate change and must control the activities that change the climate.

About the Author: Aqsa Abid is pursuing BS environmental sciences from GC Women University Sialkot. She is a green blogger and a climate activist.