Bhutanese children are at risk of the impacts of climate change threatening their health, education and protection, according to a UNICEF report. The report, ‘The Climate Crisis Is a Child Rights Crisis: Introducing the Children’s Climate Risk Index,’ was released today. It is the first comprehensive analysis of climate risk from a child’s perspective.
As per the report, as a carbon-negative country, Bhutanese children are at a relatively lower risk of the impacts of climate change compared to other countries in the South Asia region. But the country’s dependence on climate-sensitive sectors such as hydropower and agriculture makes them vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
The report states that the majority of Bhutanese depend on farming and forestry for their livelihoods. These sectors are prone to climate-induced hazards such as landslides, mudslides and flash floods during the monsoon. Such climate and environmental hazards negatively affect children’s access to essential services such as water and food.
It further adds that water scarcity can increase the incidence of a range of diseases. Moreover, children cannot survive extreme weather events and are more susceptible to toxic chemicals, temperature changes, and diseases.
The report ranks Bhutanese children as 111th most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change globally.
UNICEF Bhutan Representative Dr Will Parks says that the findings reveal that almost every child across the world is exposed to at least one climate or environmental shock and provides evidence to invest in securing the wellbeing of children.
“We now have evidence that children are both physically and physiologically more vulnerable to survive environmental shocks, that they are more at risk of death compared to adults from diseases that are likely to be exacerbated by climate change, such as malaria and dengue.”
To ensure that children do not suffer, UNICEF calls on governments, businesses, and relevant agencies worldwide to increase investment in climate adaptation and resilience in critical services for children, including water, sanitation and hygiene systems and health and education. It also wants countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45 per cent by 2030 and provide children with climate education and green skills required to adapt to climate change.
Phub Gyem
Edited by Sonam Wangdi
