Climate change

Climate Change and Children’s Rights, Climate change is an increasingly significant threat to children's rights and jeopardizes the progress made to improve their lives. Children and those in poorer communities especially are extremely vulnerable due to their physiology and exposure to climate hazards. Children in East Asia and the Pacific face challenges from environmental…, The challenge, Impact: The region faces multiple climate and environmental shocks, affecting 89 per cent of its children with three or more types of shocks. Exposure: Millions of children are highly exposed to water scarcity, coastal flooding, cyclones, and air pollution. More frequent events: The number of extreme weather events has increased significantly over…, The solution, The Climate Action for All initiative aims to protect children and communities from climate impacts by enhancing climate-resilient services across key sectors like water, sanitation, health, nutrition, education, and social protection., Access to Renewable Energy 1. Access to Renewable Energy, Promoting renewable energy use in social services and aiming for low-carbon development., Climate-Smart WASH services 2. Climate-Smart WASH Services, Developing resilient infrastructure for communities, schools, and healthcare facilities, and expanding , Climate-Smart Health Services 3. Climate-Smart Health Services, Monitoring environmental health risks, integrating prevention and treatment strategies into healthcare, and reducing the environmental footprint of healthcare facilities., Climate-Smart Nutrition Services 4. Climate-Smart Nutrition Services, Screening children’s nutritional status in high-risk areas, integrating prevention and treatment strategies, and developing resilient food systems., Climate-Smart Social Protection 6. Climate-Smart Social Protection, Designing cash transfers linked to climate hazards and improving the responsiveness of social protection systems to climate-related events., Climate Information and Early Warning Systems 8. Climate Information and Early Warning Systems, Developing systems to provide communities with timely information on climate hazards and ensuring effective communication for at-risk populations., Youth Engagement on Climate and Environment 9. Youth Engagement on Climate and Environment, Empowering young people to become agents of change in their communities and establishing frameworks for children and young people to claim their environmental rights., Cross-cutting Interventions 10. Cross-cutting Interventions, Integrating children’s needs into climate change policies, finance, and interventions through empowerment and participation of children and adolescents in climate actions., Our Approach, Children in East Asia and the Pacific face numerous climate and environmental challenges. The Climate Action for All initiative by UNICEF offers climate-smart solutions to these issues. This video highlights our efforts to enhance climate-resilient and green/low-carbon services across sectors such as water, sanitation, health, nutrition, education…, Anticipated Benefits, Our programme is expected to bring substantial and Catalog of initiative from UNICEF country offices in the East Asia and the Pacific measurable climate benefits , including a projected reduction of 3 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions over 15 years. This will be achieved through initiatives like solarizing WASH facilities, healthcare…, 2030 Vision, Our long-term vision for 2030 involves Financial mobilization plan significant scaling up at national and regional levels, empowering communities to lead the way towards a climate-resilient future for themselves and their children., Commitment to Action, Through Climate Action for All , UNICEF is committed to addressing the climate and environmental crisis by Strategic solution to climate challenges implementing systemic solutions in collaboration with public and private partners, civil society, and children and youth. 

In East Asia and Pacific, UNICEF is among the leading agencies when it comes to implementation and advocacy in the area of education. This includes ensuring that every child can enjoy safer and greener schools. Children in East Asia and the Pacific are facing unprecedented threats from climate change and continue to be exposed to natural disasters…

Bangkok, 11 April 2024 – Forecasts of a summer of record heat across East Asia and the Pacific put the lives of millions of children at risk, UNICEF said today. With scorching 40 degrees Celsius temperatures and high humidity recorded in recent days, and amid warnings over the increasing intensity and frequency of heatwaves over the coming months…

Heat waves are anything but fun in the sun. Extreme heat and humidity can be extremely uncomfortable and pose serious health risks, especially for infants, children, pregnant women and the elderly. Without taking the proper precautions, extreme heat can lead to heat stroke and even worse, fatality. As a result of climate change, heat waves are…, Heat wave facts, Heatwave facts: A girl stands under the hot sun What is a heat wave?  Heat waves happen when the temperature is higher than normal for several days in a row. Humidity can cause it to feel much hotter. What causes a heat wave?  Heat waves result from warm air being trapped in the atmosphere and are a natural weather phenomenon. Heat waves are…, What to do in a heat wave, How to prepare for a heatwave: A girl stands next to a fan Be prepared Know how hot and humid it is going to get today, this week and this month to help plan outside activities. Keep an emergency kit at home that contains oral rehydration salt (ORS) packets, a thermometer, water bottles, towels or cloths to wet for cooling, a handheld fan or…, Signs and symptoms of heat-related illness, How to recognize symptoms of heatstroke: A girl looks confused as a caregiver supports her Severe symptoms of heat stress require urgent care.  If a family member is presenting any of the severe symptoms below you should call for an ambulance or arrange for another form of transport to a health facility immediately. Trust your instincts and don’t…, Symptoms of heat-related illness, Milder symptoms - treat at home Severe symptoms – take to hospital immediately General Dry lips/sticky mouth Excessive thirst Excessive sweating Weakness /dizziness Nausea/vomiting Small blisters/rashes Heat rashes Mild fever Nosebleeds Cramps, usually in arms and legs Confusion/not responding clearly /seizures/coma/not waking up (MOST SEVERE)…, How to treat heatstroke and heat-related illnesses, How to treat heat related illness: A girl lies on the floor while a caregiver provides water Take the following steps to help your loved one cool, rehydrate and recover:, 1. Cool and rush to health facility if severe, If a family member is experiencing severe symptoms of heat-related illnesses, it is important to cool first and transport second.   Help the person sit or lie down in a cool shaded area with good ventilation. Close curtains to create more shade. Turn on a fan or air conditioner if available. Apply wet towels to the skin at head, neck, armpits and…, 2. Reduce temperature, Move the person into a cool area if not done so already. Close curtains to create more shade. Turn on a fan or air conditioner if available.    Apply wet towels or cool water to the body, particularly at head, neck, armpits and groin. Keep changing the towels or dipping them in cool water every few minutes to provide cool water for the body. If…, 3. Rehydrate, Infants under six months: Breastfeed to rehydrate the infant. Encourage mother to also drink more water, especially if breastfeeding.  Older infants and children: Given your infant or child water in small amounts to help them become used to it.  If the child has sweated a lot or is sweating a lot, add some Oral Rehydration Salt (ORS) to the water…, Heatwaves in East Asia and the Pacific, Across East Asia and Pacific, around  243 million children  are exposed to hotter and longer heatwaves, putting them at risk of a multitude of heat-related illnesses, and even death. Heatwaves are made more deadly by high humidity levels that hinder the body's natural cooling mechanisms. It is estimated that between 2000 and 2019, more than 1…

As I sat down to reflect on the whirlwind of events at this year’s UN Climate Change Conference (COP28), I found myself stirred by hope yet daunted by the challenges that lie ahead for our future. The dialogues, negotiations, and groundbreaking decisions forged during this conference would undeniably shape our leaders' actions and commitments in…

“I surprised myself,” says Nita, 17. She’s standing in front of a group of 20 students, running through the basics of waste reduction and recycling. “I never thought I’d be able to stand up and speak publicly about the environment.” Nita attends a public school in Takeo province which is aiming to become zero-waste. This isn’t a small feat in…

NEW YORK, 13 November 2023 – 1 in 3 children – or 739 million worldwide – already live in areas exposed to high or very high water scarcity, with climate change threatening to make this worse, according to a new UNICEF report. Further, the double burden of dwindling water availability and inadequate drinking water and sanitation services is…

Suva, 25 th  October 2023 –UNICEF Pacific is ready to respond and ensure the survival and protection of children in the aftermath of the severe tropical cyclone Lola, which made landfall in Vanuatu today. This is the third cyclone to have impacted Vanuatu this year and comes just months after the devastating twin cyclones Judy and Kevin in March.…

JAKARTA, 18 October 2023 – Today, the ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC), UNICEF, and International Labour Organization (ILO), with support from UNDP, UNESCO, and UN Women concluded the Breaking Barriers, Building Futures: ASEAN Regional Dialogue on Young People’s Skills, Employability and Transition to Decent Work.  The two-day regional dialogue resulted…

"It has been four years since I became a part of this great journey, and I am always grateful to have the role of UNICEF Regional Ambassador for East Asia and the Pacific . One of the most honorable jobs on Earth is to advocate for children and their rights. "This time, I also speak as a UNICEF NextGen Global Principal to the theme of "ASEAN 2045…

GENEVA/NEW YORK, 28 August 2023 - For the first time, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child has explicitly affirmed the children’s right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, issuing comprehensive interpretation of Member States’ obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. This Convention, created…

The East Asia and the Pacific (EAP) region is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, with millions of children exposed to water scarcity, coastal flooding, cyclones, and air pollution, among others. These extreme weather events not only disrupt the availability of clean water for families but also affect water and sanitation…