*CLIMATE CHANGE A GRAVE THREAT TO CHILDREN 'S SURVIVAL*

Climate has changed throughout Earth's long history, but this time it's different. Human activity is causing worldwide temperatures to rise higher and faster than any time we know of in the past.

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.

Ensuring the health and well-being of future generations is an essential part of achieving Global as a 16 year old Tendai Nyirenda from Livingstone in Southern Province explained that recent floods in different provinces have caused widespread devastation in the country. Education was disrupted for many children in affected areas, and some children drowned in the floodwaters.

Tendai believes that young Zambians need to work together to fight climate change.

“If we know about climate change and we know how to preserve our environment, then as we grow, as we become the leaders of tomorrow, it will be much easier to find lasting solutions," She said.

Across the world, many children are constantly hungry because their families can't provide them with the food they need. There is urgent need to help their environment and improve their lives.

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema says there is need for African continent to speak with one voice when it comes to matters pertaining to climate change.

Countries must come together and orchestrate a single message to be addressed ahead of the conference of parties (COP 28)," He said.

He said meaningful impact will only be achieved if the continent speaks with one voice on issues concerning climate change. He said the effects of climate change are worsening children and women are the most vulnerable ones.

He said a number of farmers in the last two days in Zambia have lost their crops due to frostbite saying it is the first time the country is experiencing frostbite at a large scale.

According to the world vision one of the cruelest realities of climate change is children often suffer the most. Even when they’ve done the very least to cause it. This is especially true in the world’s poorest, most chaotic regions.
 
Girls and boys in extreme poverty don’t drive cars, or even ride in them. They have no money to purchase manufactured goods from atmosphere-destroying factories. They can’t even be faulted for leaving their bedroom lights on in the morning. Most have no electricity.
 
Yet for children in low-income countries, the impact of climate change can be particularly brutal. Particularly when it’s compounded by threats like armed conflict and economic disaster.

Children can experience mental health impacts from major storms, fires, and other extreme events that are expected to increase with a changing climate. They also can suffer from other changes, such as having to move due to climate threats.

The climate crisis affects everyone, but girls and boys in the most vulnerable communities bear the brunt of the impacts despite being the least responsible for it.At World Vision, we believe every child has the right to a healthy and safe environment today and a sustainable future.

Climate change is now one of the greatest drivers of poverty and hunger with 45 million people worldwide at extreme risk of famine. This includes almost 21 million children. Communities all over the world are telling us that unreliable seasons, droughts and floods are on the rise. The climate crisis is affecting everyone, but girls and boys in the most vulnerable communities will bear the brunt of the impacts, despite being the least responsible for it.About 1 billion children – almost one in 2 children - across the globe are now living in countries at extremely high risk of climate change and environmental hazards such as violent storms, droughts, and floods. It is estimated that 3.2 billion people are affected by land degradation, while over 160 million children are living in areas of high-level drought. Without action on climate change, droughts will continue to intensify, land degradation and desertification will continue to accelerate, and the hunger crisis will be further exacerbated.

About 60 children from all ten provinces of Zambia, representatives of line ministries, and members of the Parliament, including the Chair of the Parliamentarian Caucus on Children gathered today in Lusaka to mark World Children’s Day.  The event, themed “Renewing Our Promise for Children’s Rights”, provided an opportunity to reflect on the progress made since the 2022 event which was celebrated in Zambia alongside Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe with nearly 500 children and the Heads of State of the four Sub-Saharan nations. 

On this important occasion, children raised their voices and requested policy makers to take action to protect their rights in areas such as climate change, education, health, child protection and inclusion of children with disabilities among others. “Climate change is a child rights crisis and therefore our voices must be heard. We ask for meaningful participation. We, children, must be included in the development of climate change policies,” said Chibwe Chilufya, 11 years old, from Northern Province. “As children, we want to be involved in shaping the curriculum and we request that issues like climate change, mental health and wellbeing are taught in schools. The curriculum should be revised together with learners,” added David Lungu, 16 years old, from Western Province.

Since World Children’s Day 2022, Zambia’s Government has made important strides in realizing the rights of children. In March 2023, the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services launched the Standardized Statutory and Non-Statutory Case Management tools that outline procedures on provision of services to children at risk of violence, abuse and exploitation, while the representatives of the Traditional Chiefs and Members of Parliament signed a commitment to end child marriage two months later in May. To complement these strides in pledges, legislation and frameworks, Zambia has also increased its budgetary allocations and support to the sectors that serve the needs of children, notably in the health and education sectors.  

“Children represent the present and the future of this nation. But what does it take to raise the next generation of leaders, movers, and drivers of our great nation? Equal opportunities, in all spheres of life and in all sectors, not only to survive, but to thrive. To make this happen, we, the leaders of the present day, invite, and count on, our children to sound the call to action to the Government, and to hold us accountable for our promises. We call on Zambia’s young people to do this dutifully and with well-considered views; to engage with us, and, indeed, to inspire us with your fresh perspectives. By so doing, young people will be a support to the Government to build the Zambia we want to see for every child,” stated Hon. Doreen Mwamba, Minister Community Development and Social Services, MP.

Children are not like little adults. Their bodies and minds are uniquely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change such as pollution, deadly diseases and extreme weather. Yet they have been either ignored or largely disregarded in the global climate change discourse and financing. UNICEF’s 2021 landmark Children's Climate Risk Index (CCRI) report found that 1 billion children are at extremely high risk of the impacts of the climate crisis and examined eight components of climate and environmental shocks and stresses. This report builds on the CCRI and examines one of these components – water scarcity (the physical availability of water) along with water vulnerability (the combination of water scarcity and lack of access to drinking water service) While countries all over the world face water stress as they struggle to balance demand with available supplies in a changing climate, the combination of physical water scarcity and inadequate infrastructure for drinking water services creates water vulnerability. Managing water scarcity and reducing water vulnerability will require much stronger action in national adaptation plans and climate finance investments. Putting children at the centre of the global response to the climate crisis will not only protect the health and well-being of children, but also lead to stronger communities and more resilient economies. At COP28, world leaders and the international community must take critical steps with and for children, to secure a livable planet.

The global failure to confront the climate crisis – the greatest threat of this generation – has created a child rights crisis. It is jeopardizing every child’s fundamental right to health and well- being. Every passing year, the effects pile up: millions displaced from their homes, heatwaves, droughts and flooding that unleash havoc, education disrupted and diseases made more endemic. But climate policy and financing, media coverage and global discourse on climate change all too often ignore the fact that children’s bodies and minds are uniquely vulnerable to pollution, deadly diseases and extreme weather. In 2021, UNICEF released the landmark Children’s Climate Risk Index (CCRI).

Call to Action There is need for measures to be put in place aimed at curbing the impact of climate change on communities. Developed countries should honour the commitments they made at the Paris summit. 

World vision Zambia, Government, Save the children, media network on children’s rights and other partners on climate change to put their heads together on how best they can help children combat climate especially those children who are in remote areas because children in remove areas are the most vulnerable ones, they know a little or no information about climate change and how is it affecting them.