Climate change represents one of the biggest challenges that mankind faces now and in the coming years. Global warming, ice melting, the frequency of droughts and floods are all symptoms of ongoing changes. As there are huge risks for the planet and for future generations, we should all be paying attention and engaging in further protective action. These changes are putting 175 million children at risk every year, an increase of 40% compared to 10 years ago. Global warming has repercussions on the everyday life of the world’s population. Rising sea levels and deserti cation are causing increased poverty in agricultural communities. Although climate change is a worldwide phenomenon, the effects of global warming mainly affect, underdeveloped nations, and particularly its children, as seen by its mortality rates. Take one example: malaria. Every year the disease kills about 800.000 children under ve years old. This number will of course increase as large areas see a rise in temperatures. Climate change will also cause more malnutrition, with gures of up to 25 million undernourished children by the year 2050, according to studies to UNICEF estimates. The correlation between climate change and social, economic and political problems will probably force children to become eco-refugees, separated from their families and exposed to exploitation.
The “Child survival in a changing climate” project is funded by the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation.
