More Than Just Child Labor: Rising Heatwaves Threaten Millions of Children Worldwide

In preparation for the final discussions of the new labor law, and while I was researching the catastrophe ofchild laborand the real threat it poses, I was actually stopped by a new report issued by UNICEF. This report reviews what the increase in Heat waves are a threat to the children of the world, as the report stated: “559 million” children around the world are currently exposed to high heat waves, and this number may rise to “2.02 billion” children worldwide by the year 2050.

The report, which was produced in cooperation with the Collaborative Children’s Data Center, emphasizes the urgent need to address the effects of global warming on future generations, and this report comes to emphasize the importance ofContinuous follow-up; To determine the risks to which children are exposed as a result of climate change, which UNICEF expresses as the “Children’s Climate Risk Index,” which was launched in the year 2021.

Craig Houghton, professor of sustainability sciences in geography and environmental sciences and a participant in the report, said: “During our previous work, heat waves were identified as a particular problem for children. The team then decided to develop work on this matter, and an agreement was reached with UNICEF calls for the climate risk indicator to children to be a priority in decision-making.”

Temperatures are fatal for children

The report estimates that by 2050,It is expected that “2.02 billion” children in the world will be exposed to high heat waves, whether the world is able to achieve a low emission scenario of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) with a warming estimated at 1.7 degrees, or a very high emission scenario of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs), with a warming estimated at 2.4 degrees. Degree.

Katherine Russell, Executive DirectorUNICEF, said: “Temperatures continue to rise and so do the impacts on children. One in three children already lives in countries facing extremely high temperatures and is exposed to One in every four children is exposed to repeated high heat waves, and it seems things will get worse.”

The report found that high heat waves in particular affectCurrently, it specifically affects “538 million”, which represents (23%) of the children worldwide, and by 2050 the number will rise to “1.6 billion” children in a scenario of 1.7 degrees of warming, or “1.9 billion” children in a scenario of 2.4 degrees of warming.

Professor Houghton said: “Heatwaves are a major concern for children, as they are vulnerable to dehydration and heat exhaustion, and are completely dependent on others for protection, which often fails in the case of child labor and migration pressures, for example. Despite this, “We rarely see policy or planning that specifically deals with issues related to children or acknowledges the lack of protection that children have against climate change.”

An effect that haunts children from…All continents

Children in northern regions, especially Europe, will experience the most dramatic increases in extreme heatwaves, and nearly half of children in Africa and Asia will experience sustained exposure to very high temperatures by 2050.

23 countries currently fall into the highest category for children’s exposure to very high temperatures. The report estimates that this number will rise to 33 countries by 2050 under the low emissions scenario and 36 countries under the very high emissions scenario. Countries such as India, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are likely to remain in the highest category in both scenarios.

In my opinion: “The launch of the climate risk index for children wasThe year 2021 is a big step, as we must take into account the quality of children’s lives in light of the effects of climate, especially heat waves, when considering how to adapt to climate changes.”

Effect on children’s health

Heat waves cause particular harm to children. Because they are less able to regulate their body temperature compared to adults, infants and young children are more susceptible to heat-related death.

Additional exposure to heat waves can cause children to develop health problems such as chronic respiratory diseases, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Waves can affectIt also affects children’s environments, safety, nutrition, access to water, education and future livelihoods.

Katherine said: “More children will be affected by longer, hotter and more frequent heatwaves over the next 30 years, seriously threatening their health, and limiting the extent of the damage that will result from these changes will depend on the effectiveness of the measures taken.” We take it now.”

While all countries of the world are combating child labor, whether through legislative or regulatory tools, to prevent exposing their lives to danger, there is another danger whose signs are looming on the horizon. This danger requires everyone to Really adopting the agenda of urgently limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, this is the wayThe only one to save the lives of children, their future, and the future of the Earth.