Climate Change Is a Grave Threat to Children’s Survival
Right now, in the U.S. and around the world, children’s lives are under threat due to climate change. Nearly 710 million children are currently living in countries at the highest risk of suffering the impact of the climate crisis. However, every child will inherit a planet with more frequent extreme weather events than ever before.
Extreme events, including wildfires, floods and hurricanes, have become a frightening new normal. Hotter temperatures, air pollution and violent storms are leading to immediate, life-threatening dangers for children, including difficulty breathing, malnutrition and higher risk of infectious diseases.
Global Health Foundation is a global leader working in the U.S. and around the world to help children and their communities adapt to the impacts of the climate crisis. Your donation today supports this life-saving work. Make a one-time donation to the Children’s Emergency Fund or join Team Tomorrow to connect with the causes you care about – like the climate crisis – through your monthly donation.
What Are the Effects of Climate Change on Future Generations?
While climate change affects everyone, those who have contributed the least to the crisis—children, those in poverty, and future generations—are the most affected.
- Extreme temperatures leave many families living in poverty with less food, less clean water, lower incomes and worsening health.
- Children’s immune systems are still developing, leaving their rapidly growing bodies more sensitive to disease and pollution.
- Extreme events can destroy homes, schools, child care centers and infrastructure critical to children’s well-being.
- Droughts and flooding can destroy crops and cut access to clean water.
- The UN warns that many families will have to choose between starvation and migration.
Statistics About Climate Change and Children
The climate crisis magnifies inequality, poverty, displacement and may increase the likelihood of conflict.
- 90% of diseases resulting from the climate crisis are likely to affect children under the age of five.
- By 2050, a further 24 million children are projected to be undernourished as a result of the climate crisis.
- By 2040, it is estimated that one in four children will be living in areas with extreme water shortages.
- Almost 160 million children are exposed to increasingly severe and prolonged droughts.
- The education of around 38 million children is disrupted each year by the climate crisis.
- The climate crisis is forcing families to migrate. By 2050, there could be 143 million more migrants due to the climate crisis.