Children and Climate change

Videos Climate Change in Bangladesh: Who Will Pay? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3wAS5qgncA Flood Children of Holdibari www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJFVqCoA4yA

Children, disasters and climate change Children are nearly 40% of world pop (half in Africa) 90% of these live in developing countries Children as sector vulnerable to shocks and stresses Timescales match medium term climate changes Instrumental concerns about poverty targets Intergenerational equity and poverty transfers 3

UNICEF UK Climate Change Report 2008

Vulnerability and protection perspectives - In next decade, up to 175 million children per year likely to be affected by climate-related disasters Exposure to malaria increases from 45% to 60% in next century By 2010, 50 million 'environmentally displaced people', most of whom will be women and children. (Save the Children 2008) 5

Agency and empowerment perspectives Passive victims to agents of change Participation in climate policy Child-led community based adaptation and DRR Risk communicators and managers Climate friendly lifestyles Carbon offsets (caution!) 6

Rights and justice perspectives Child rights Right to protection and safety Right to survival and development Best interests of the child Right to participate Intergenerational justice Bequeathing a healthy planet Constraining development opportunities 7

Impacts (disaster burden, health) Children’s Futures (Migration, Work) Discussion: What are the knowledge gaps for child-centred climate change responses? Impacts (disaster burden, health) Children’s Futures (Migration, Work) Child Rights Frameworks Perceptions and knowledge Child-sensitive climate policy Participation in adaptation and mitigation practice 8

Role of Children in Adapting to Climate Change Further Reading IDS In Focus 02.04 Role of Children in Adapting to Climate Change  http://www.ids.ac.uk/climatechangeadaptation ELDIS / Children in a Changing Climate Key Issues Guide ‘Children, climate change and disasters’ http://tinyurl.com/CCCandD

How can children be at the centre of responses to climate change?   Can adaptation and social protection initiatives safeguard child rights in a changing climate How can children be at the centre of responses to climate change? How can the international climate change regime better respond to the crises faced by children in poor and fragile environments?