Effects of Environmental
Harms on Children
Although the climate change is a global
phenomenon, the effects of global warming, rising sea levels or natural
disaster are felt unevenly around the world. Countries which are least equipped
to deal with climate change seem to be hit hardest. In these poor countries
children particularly are more impacted by environmental disruption than adults
and because of their immune system have not fully been developed, children are
vulnerable to toxics, bacterial and viral contamination. Studies show, the
total number of people killed by natural disasters between 1996 and 2005 was 84
percent higher than the number of people killed in the decade in the before
while earthquakes may or may not be triggered by climate change, the example
from the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 illustrates the point: of the 226,408
people killed by tsunami, more than half were women, and in some regions four
times as many women as men were killed. More than a third of those killed were
children.
UNICEF in its work acknowledges, ‘the
potential impact on children has been a critical missing element from the
debate about climate change. Whilst there is growing body of literature on the
links between climate change and Vulnerability, particularly in relation to the
impact of natural disasters, research and advocacy activity on climate change
and children specifically are less developed’. However the international
community has recently started to recognized the child rights violation due to
climate change. Specific actions for child survival, protection and development
need to be undertaken in accordance with goals endorsed by the 1990 World
Summit for Children whereas the Summit urges that the interests of children
must be taken fully into account in the participatory process for sustainable
development and environmental protection.
The lack of environmental protection
on the outset hampers a child’s right to life and good health. It could be linked
to any environmental disruption that directly contributed to the loss of lives.
This right to health, closely linked to the right to life, is often violated in
cases of climate change. Children in poor countries are more likely than adults
to perish during natural disaster or succumb to malnutrition, injuries or
discuss in the aftermath. Natural disasters may force children out of their
homes or even their countries. Evidence shows under-five child morality rates
in poor countries are routinely much higher than those of adults.
Table
1. Under five and crude mortality rates in a range of countries country.
|
U-5
mortality rate
(per
thousand)
|
Crude
mortality rate (per thousand)
|
Japan
(high income)
|
4
|
8
|
4
|
10
|
|
6
|
7
|
|
27
|
7
|
|
43
|
6
|
|
73
|
8
|
|
145
|
20
|
|
225
|
17
|
Source:
UNICEP (2007)
Again, Save the Children in its study
finds, ‘some 170 million children under five suffer chronic, malnutrition.
Those in Africa are the most at risk from increases in drought due to climate
change: African countries have been identified as being the most vulnerable to
drought, and since the 1960s droughts have particularly affected the Sahel, the
Horn of Africa and Southern Africa . As many as
22o million people in Africa are exposed to
drought every year’. It is reasonable well documented that climate change is
likely to affect children disproportionately overall. Due to the environmental
disruption, the right to physical and economic access to adequate food and
clean water is progressively under pressure.
With sea level rising, more and more
children living on islands and in coastal areas, have and would be deprived of
(parts of) their property and shelter.
There is
no doubt about the serious impact of climate changes on children across the
globe. It impedes the growth and development of a child’s physical and
physiological wellbeing
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