Climate change is a growing crisis, and its effects are being felt most by those who contributed least to global emissions. This report by the ¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ Climate Change Working Group offers crucial insights into how ¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ members, child health professionals, from 50 countries are witnessing and responding to the increasing environmental threats to children's health.
Our international survey reveals alarming trends:
- Environmental risks: Healthcare professionals identified exposure to heat, poor air quality and increased infectious diseases as the most common risks to children and young people.
- Morbidity: A majority of respondents reported a rise in childhood morbidity, with diarrhoeal diseases, malnutrition and the direct effects of extreme weather being most prevalent.
- Mental health: Nearly one-third of respondents observed a negative impact on the mental health of children and young people due to climate change.
- Workload and Advocacy: Despite increased workloads, few healthcare professionals in our survey have implemented climate advocacy or mitigation strategies, citing a lack of financial support and awareness of relevant policies.
To address these critical issues, the report makes the following recommendations:
- COP Health Day: Advocate for increased financing for climate adaptation, specifically targeting support for children
- Local and national advocacy: Child health professionals and paediatric associations must leverage their influence to push for action on mitigating environmental risks.
- Education: Integrate climate change mitigation, adaptation, and advocacy into all levels of medical training.
- Enhanced data collection: Invest in research to better quantify the impact of climate change on child health and inform policy development.
This report is a call to action for healthcare professionals, policymakers, and global leaders. We must act now to protect the most vulnerable - our children.
Explore the full report to understand the detailed findings and how you can contribute to making a difference.