East Asia and the Pacific

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…

BANGKOK, 4 April 2024 – New data released by UNICEF reveals an alarming increase in civilian casualties – including many children – caused by the use of landmines and other explosive ordnance used by different parties in the escalating conflict in Myanmar.   Data released by UNICEF  on International Day of Mine Awareness and Assistance shows that…

I’ve visited Cambodia twice in the last 18 months, as part of my role as adolescent development specialist at UNICEF’s East Asia Pacific Regional Office. It is a country on the cusp of great things, but also carrying a lot of historical baggage. A fast transition to new economic realities, and the threat of climate change is apparent everywhere…

Remarkable progress in women’s and children’s health has been achieved in East Asia and the Pacific, but progress has been unequal. Children living in remote, marginalized groups are being left behind. The unfinished agenda in maternal and child health combined with the rise of noncommunicable diseases and climate and pandemic risks requires a…

Throughout 2023, the first cohort of the Young People’s Action Team (YPAT) has worked to actively promote the inclusion of young people’s voices through diverse strategies. Members participated in youth-led initiatives and forums, contributed to social media campaigns, and used their experience to provide valuable feedback to UNICEF’s programmes.…, The objective, The Young People’s Action Team (YPAT) aims to meaningfully engage young people in East Asia and the Pacific region, drawing on their skills, experience and networks and helping to further develop them. Through their position as representatives of the Young People’s Action Team (YPAT) members contribute to the work of UNICEF programme sections (…, Who are the Young People’s Action Team (YPAT) members?, This year’s Young People’s Action Team (YPAT) members from 14 countries in East Asia and the Pacific, are united in their goal to advocate for change in a veriety of areas: Health and Nutrition, Skills and Transition to Decent Work, Violence against Children and Harmful Practices, Participation and Civic Engagement, Environment and Climate Change…

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…

Families try hard to provide their children with a variety of healthy and nutritious foods like fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs and meat.   But nutritious food is getting more and more expensive, and parents – especially mothers – may not always have time to prepare home cooked meals for every feeding. Food manufacturers have been quick to develop…, COMMIT Activities, The Consortium for Improving Complementary Foods in Southeast Asia – known as COMMIT – was established to better understand the use, quality and regulation of commercially produced complementary foods in Southeast Asia. COMMIT implemented four activities: COMMIT Activity 1: A comprehensive nutrient gap assessment in diets of children aged 6 to 23…, Taking Action, COMMIT recommends that Lao PDR strengthens national regulations on the nutrient composition and labelling practices of commercially produced complementary foods, in line with international guidance. To support this work, COMMIT developed a ‘ Compendium of international standards and guidelines for the improved composition and labelling of…, Watch and share our call to action video:

Families try hard to provide their children with a variety of healthy and nutritious foods like fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs and meat.   But nutritious food is getting more and more expensive, and parents – especially mothers – may not always have time to prepare home cooked meals for every feeding. Food manufacturers have been quick to develop…, COMMIT Activities, The Consortium for Improving Complementary Foods in Southeast Asia – known as COMMIT – was established to better understand the use, quality and regulation of commercially produced complementary foods in Southeast Asia. COMMIT implemented four activities: COMMIT Activity 1: A comprehensive nutrient gap assessment in diets of children aged 6 to 23…, Taking Action, COMMIT recommends that Cambodia strengthens national regulations on the nutrient composition and labelling practices of commercially produced complementary foods, in line with international guidance. To support this work, COMMIT developed a ‘ Compendium of international standards and guidelines for the improved composition and labelling of…, Watch and share our call to action video:, COMMIT logo_white background

BANGKOK, 14 December 2023 –  A new study released today revealed high sugar and salt content in commercially produced packaged foods marketed for children aged 6 months to 3 years in Southeast Asia, as well as widespread use of potentially misleading and deceptive labelling and lack of strict regulations around product composition and sale. The…

Families try hard to provide their children with a variety of healthy and nutritious foods like fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs and meat.   But nutritious food is getting more and more expensive, and parents – especially mothers – may not always have time to prepare home cooked meals for every feeding. Food manufacturers have been quick to develop…, COMMIT Activities, The Consortium for Improving Complementary Foods in Southeast Asia – known as COMMIT – was established to better understand the use, quality and regulation of commercially produced complementary foods in Southeast Asia. COMMIT implemented four activities in Thailand: COMMIT Activity 1: A comprehensive nutrient gap assessment in diets of children…, Taking Action, COMMIT recommends that Thailand strengthens national regulations on the nutrient composition and labelling practices of commercially produced complementary foods, in line with international guidance. To support this work, COMMIT developed a ‘ Compendium of international standards and guidelines for the improved composition and labelling of…, Watch and share our call to action video:, COMMIT logo_white background