Summary:
The climate crisis is a child rights crisis that needs global urgent action. Its prolonged impacts on the mental and physical health, as well as on the general welfare of children and young people (CYP) stem from shifts in the environment like wildfires, droughts, and heightened exposure to air pollutants. Almost all children (>99%) worldwide are already exposed to one or more climate and environmental risks to their health and millions do not have access to their determinants of health, including clean air, safe water, sanitation, affordable and nutritious food, and shelter.
These are fundamental rights as enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Our report, Preserving the world for future generations, offers a holistic view of how CYP - both in the UK and internationally - perceive and understand climate change. Over the last two years, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health engagement team has been on the road around the whole of the UK, talking to CYP about climate change and its impact on their physical and mental health.
To support this work, the authors also conducted a literature review to capture the perceptions and priorities of children and young people globally. So, in total, the report summarises the voices and perspectives of almost 100,000 CYP from across the world.
