BORN INTO THE
CLIMATE CRISIS

The climate crisis acts as a threat multiplier. In regions already grappling with conflict, widespread displacement, and food shortages, the climate crisis amplifies existing insecurities, putting children at even greater risk.

Climate-related disasters can create conflict over limited resources or force people to leave their homes. Conflict undermines the ability of communities and governments to invest in systems and approaches that help people cope with the impacts of climate change.

The link between climate change and conflict is a major challenge that must be addressed to ensure stability, security and the well-being of children in conflict regions.

Every child has the right to learn. Yet our changing climate is threatening children’s learning, health, wellbeing, and safety. Today, more than 175 million children around the world are out of school due to climate disasters.

Children who face exclusion and discrimination – including girls, children with disabilities and children affected by conflict – are the worst affected. By 2025, it is estimated that 12.5 million girls will not complete their schooling annually, due to climate change.

As the global climate crisis deepens, the situation will only get worse. Climate disasters destroy or damage schools, forcing families to flee or migrate, which has a significant impact on children's education.

Save the Children's goal is to provide education that is resilient to climate change and contributes to equity - so that all children, regardless of their background, can go to school and learn.

Rising temperatures and changing weather patterns can increase the risk of illnesses from poor air, food and water quality.

The impacts of climate change and changes in the use of resources such as overfishing, deforestation, soil degradation reduce the quality and availability of food. Air pollution - one of the main causes of climate change - is associated with increasing rates on pneumonia, the leading cause of death in children under five.

Extreme weather conditions such as flooding affect access to water, sanitation, and hygiene, vital for preventing diarrhoea which kills over 500,00 children a year. The mental health impact of climate change includes trauma from extreme weather events, displacement and climate anxiety.

One billion children are today at extreme risk from the impacts of climate change. And almost every child worldwide has been affected by at least one climate disaster.

Climate change is one of the main causes of increasing violence against children. Climate crises exacerbate poverty, economic insecurity, and lack of access to food and education – all factors that can increase rates of child marriage and child exploitation. With extreme weather destroying farmland, livelihoods are lost or reduced. This often forces families to relocate, take their children out of school and send them to work to help support their family.

When families flee climate-related disasters, there is an increased risk of children being separated from their families and experiencing sexual and gender-based violence and abuse. Children also often suffer from psychosocial stress, climate-related stress and anxiety, which reduce their resilience and ability to cope with the disaster.