Climate change and impacts

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…

“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…

In the heart of the Pacific lies Indonesia, a breathtaking tapestry of islands draped with the beauty of nature's wonders. Yet, all this beauty hides an undeniable vulnerability: exposure to the capricious dance of disasters. Since 2020, my journey in humanitarian work has been a symphony of compassion, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to…

BANGKOK, 9 November 2023 – In the presence of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, General Comment no. 26 was formally launched in Southeast Asia today at an event hosted by the UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office in Bangkok. The new General Comment, which was published in August, explicitly addresses the climate emergency and the…

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.…

BANGKOK/NEW YORK, 6 October 2023 – Weather-related disasters caused 43.1 million internal displacements of children in 44 countries over a six-year period – or approximately 20,000 child displacements a day - according to a new UNICEF analysis released today. Children Displaced in a Changing Climate is the first global analysis of the number of…

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON D.C., 13 September 2023 – An estimated 333 million children globally – or 1 in 6 – live in extreme poverty, according to new UNICEF-World Bank analysis released today. Global Trends in Child Monetary Poverty According to International Poverty Lines – which for the first time looks at trends in extreme child poverty – finds that…

Year in year out, typhoons batter Faye’s hometown in the Philippines. Along with many others, she’s had to flee her home, abandon her belongings and rush to evacuation centers – unsure of what she and her family may come back to. In Fiji, Temo lost her house and school when a powerful cyclone made landfall. These aren’t one-off examples. Natural…

Climate change impacts everyone, but its effects are experienced very unevenly. Geographical location, individual health status, age, socioeconomic background, health system preparedness, and support systems all play a crucial role in determining how vulnerable different population groups are. The East Asia and Pacific region is one of the most…, Read more in our report, This report unveils the intensifying frequency and compounding effects of climate-related hazards intertwined with non-climate shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic and socio-economic challenges. This situation creates multiplier effects and cascading impacts in the region, leading to a ‘polycrisis’ – a situation with multiple near-simultaneous shocks…, Some key highlights from the report,       Children in Asia and the Pacific are hardest hit by multiple overlapping shocks. 41% of children in the region experience 5 or more simultaneous shocks! That’s much higher than the global average of 14%... When climate impacts overlap with non-climate impacts, things become especially hard for the most vulnerable children. Climate report…, What actions can be taken?, Urgent action is needed to address the impacts of the climate crisis on children. Fortunately, there are measures we can take to tackle the root causes of climate change and improve children’s resilience to multiple overlapping shocks. Climate report social media card 3 Climate report social media card 4 Our report highlights the need to invest in…

BANGKOK, 24 May 2023 – More than any other region, children in the East Asia and Pacific region are having to survive multiple, often overlapping climate and environmental hazards and shocks, according to the latest UNICEF regional report ‘Over the Tipping Point’. The report highlights the urgent need to invest in climate-smart social services and…

The East Asia and Pacific (EAP) region is one of the most impacted to multiple types of overlapping climate and environmental shocks and stresses, 41% of children in the region face 5 or more shocks, compared to global average of 14%. Climate shocks are increasing in frequency, and interacting with non-climate shocks like the COVID pandemic, the…

Landing in Phnom Penh on an early midweek morning last October, I was greeted by bustling business goers starting their day. Once a riverside village along the Tonle Sap, it’s hard to miss the signs of development Cambodia’s capital has seen in recent years as scaffolding scatter across an increasingly tall skyline - though the gentle hum of boats…