La Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned that at least 5.9 million children and young people could fall into poverty by 2030 as a direct consequence of climate change.
The data comes from a new report analyzing how extreme events and the lack of climate action are affecting child development in the region.
Two scenarios, one shared urgency
The study presents two scenarios:
- Optimistic scenario: if governments implement quick and effective measures to reduce emissions and adapt, an additional 5.9 million minors would be in poverty
- Critical scenario: if actions are insufficient or delayed, the figure could triple to 17.9 million
“Children and adolescents are the most affected by climate change. Not only because of their physical vulnerability but because these phenomena disrupt their livelihoods and education,” stated Roberto Benes, regional director of UNICEF.
Climate financing: a debt to childhood
The report denounces that current climate financing does not prioritize essential services that children need to develop: health, nutrition, education, water, and sanitation. In Latin America and the Caribbean, only 3.4% of climate funds are allocated to children.
Moreover, cuts in international cooperation coincide with a moment of unprecedented need, where millions of children and young people require urgent support to face the disproportionate impacts of climate change.
Recommendations for a child-focused climate policy
ECLAC and UNICEF urge the region’s governments to:
- Increase climate investment directed at children, with actions differentiated by age and context
- Strengthen social protection systems and responses to climate emergencies, considering the specific needs of children and adolescents
- Integrate children into adaptation and resilience strategies, as part of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC)
Regional coverage of the study
The report includes data from 18 countries representing 95% of the population of the 33 ECLAC member states, they are: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
Mitigation and adaptation: keys to facing the crisis
To combat climate change in Latin America, the report proposes:
Emission mitigation
- Energy transition: replace fossil fuels with solar and wind energy
- Clean transportation: promote electric mobility and improve vehicle regulations
- Energy efficiency: optimize energy use in buildings and appliances
Adaptation and resilience
- Ecosystem restoration: protect forests and wetlands as natural sinks
- Sustainable agriculture: develop crops resistant to droughts and extreme temperatures
- Resilient infrastructure: build structures that withstand extreme weather events
- Risk management: improve early warning systems and response policies
Policies and governance
- Land use planning: establish environmental priorities based on science
- Climate financing: mobilize public and private investment towards sustainable projects
- Global framework: demand climate compensations from the most polluting countries
