The United Nations Children’s Fund has stated that climate change crisis has posed as a threat to one billion children, putting them at high risk.
This was contained in a press release by the agency on Monday, stating that UNICEF would attend COP26 to ensure that children’s rights are recognised as part of the climate crisis.
UNICEF Executive Director, Henrietta Fore, said, “COP26 must be the COP for children. Climate change is one of the greatest threats facing this generation, with 1 billion children at extremely high risk. Yet, while the outlook is dire, world leaders at COP26 have a significant, time-sensitive opportunity to redirect the terrible path we are on.
“They can do so by committing to strengthening the resilience of services that children depend upon, and by cutting emissions faster and deeper. The futures of billions of children depend on it.”
The report further stated that approximately one billion children, which represents nearly half of the world’s children live in 33 countries classified in the Index as “extremely high-risk”.
According to UNICEF, such children are exposed to climate and environmental shocks with a high vulnerability due to inadequate essential services, such as water and sanitation, healthcare and education.
UNICEF noted that its presence at the COP26 is geared towards promoting approaches to decrease climate risk for those who are most vulnerable.
Also, UNICEF noted children and young people can participate in climate-related decision-making through COP26. (Punch)
