Today, on World Environment Day, we draw attention to a critical issue: the protection of children living in vulnerable situations in the face of escalating environmental crises.
An estimated 1 billion children live in countries classified as ‘extremely high-risk’ to the impacts of the climate crisis, representing nearly half of the world’s children.
Over 99% of children worldwide face at least one major climate or environmental hazard, with over 100 million already lacking parental support or at risk of losing it.
Children without parental support are disproportionately affected by the climate crisis. They often lack access to financial and emotional support, health services, and other resources necessary to cope with environmental challenges.
Dr Enamul Haque, National Director of SOS Children’s Villages in Bangladesh explains: “In most of the southern part of the country when it gets flooded, there is saline water everywhere. Because people have lost their families, parents have lost their properties and lost their lands, they don’t have money to feed their children, they don’t have money for their education. So, they are forced to child labour. It’s estimated that 1.7 million children are under the child labour situation. Also, it is estimated that 60% of the girls are getting married under 18, the highest in Asia, and 22% below eleven years of age.”
Although it affects us all, the impacts of the climate crisis are unequal. Despite contributing the least to it, the world’s poorest and most vulnerable communities are bearing the brunt of the crisis.
The climate crisis disproportionately affects low-income countries, many of which are already prone to natural hazards, while most emissions are generated by high-income countries. The ten highest emitting countries collectively account for nearly 70% of global emissions, whereas the thirty-three ‘extremely high-risk’ countries collectively emit just 9% of global CO2 emissions. Read our recently published updates on the ongoing flood crisis in Kenya and Brazil.
Women and girls often also experience the greatest impacts of the climate crisis, which amplifies existing gender inequalities and poses unique threats to their livelihoods, health, and safety.
Natural hazards such as hurricanes and floods can escalate into disasters, often leading to displacement and forced migration. During these events, children may be separated from their families, disrupting their access to essential services like food, water, housing, healthcare, and education. Children separated from their families are at a higher risk of violence and exploitation and may become vulnerable to child marriage, child labour, or dropping out of school.
Extended droughts, like those affecting the Horn of Africa, and extreme flooding cause significant agricultural losses. The loss of income resulting from these events can lead to family breakdowns. Women and children often remain in rural areas while men seek employment in cities, creating further instability and hardship.
Environmental shocks place immense pressure on families worldwide, often leading to the unnecessary separation of children from their parents. Children with limited resources are the most severely affected.
At SOS Children’s Villages, we support children and families in high-risk areas. Many of our programmes operate in regions dependent on agriculture and prone to natural hazards. We provide resources and support to help these children and families cope with the impacts of the climate crisis. Ensuring they have access to the necessary services and, we help families stay together, so children and young people can continue to receive the parental care, love and support they need to thrive. We also help communities to find innovative solutions to adapt to the impacts of the climate crisis, building long-term resilience and stability
When children are separated from their parents due to extreme weather events, we work to reunite them with their family or if that is not possible, provide a loving home for them where they can develop the healthy relationships they need to become their strongest selves. By addressing the unique challenges faced by children who are vulnerable in the face of environmental hazards, we strive to create a safer, more supportive world for the next generation.