The world is at a critical juncture in the fight against climate change.
As the effects of global warming become more pronounced, it is clear that immediate action is needed to mitigate its impact.
However, despite the urgency of the situation, many governments and corporations are still prioritising short-term gains over long-term sustainability.
This is particularly concerning for children, who will bear the brunt of the consequences of climate change.
It is time to put children at the centre of climate investments, and to prioritise their needs and well-being in the face of this global crisis.
The science is clear, climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time.
Rising temperatures, more frequent natural disasters, and devastating heatwaves are just a few of the consequences of human activities that are releasing large amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
The impact on children is particularly severe, with many facing health problems, displacement, and trauma as a result of climate-related disasters.
In fact, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef), climate change is already affecting the lives of over 1 billion children worldwide.
As Zimbabwe faces the effects of climate-induced El Niño, Unicef has taken proactive steps to highlight the profound impact of climate change on children.
Under their climate campaign “Invest in Climate, Invest in Children!”, they launched a petition to urge government entities, development partners, and the private sector to prioritise children in their climate investments.
Zimbabwe experiences the effects of climate change through cyclical droughts, floods, and extreme weather events, including those caused by phenomena like El Niño and La Niña.
Climate change-induced events are becoming more frequent and intense, leading to severe impacts on children and their communities.
In a report written by Unicef titled Climate Change Impact on Child Health: Perspectives from Children and Care Givers in Zimbabwe, they conducted surveys if whether children understand what climate change was.
The consultations indicated that 98% of the consulted children in Zimbabwe were aware of climate change as they were able to describe their understanding of the phenomena.
Children mainly described climate change as the shift in global weather patterns which is attributed to anthropogenic factors such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation.
Their understanding of climate change was mainly linked to the change and shift in temperatures and rainfall patterns.
Children were also able to link global warming because of ozone depletion to be one of the driving factors of It’s too hot and it’s raining too much.”
Children in both urban and rural settings expressed that drought, influenced by climate change, are significantly impacting their health in diverse ways.
Children mentioned that frequent droughts have spurred the adoption of unsustainable practices like illegal gold mining, which not only damages the environment but also poses health risks due to resulting hazards such as abandoned pits and residual chemicals in water sources.
Moreover, these activities have contributed to social issues like the proliferation of sexually transmitted infections, drug abuse, early marriages, and heightened insecurity due to the presence of criminal gangs in gold mining areas.
Water has created challenges in accessing this vital resource, as certain adaptation measures like boreholes or collecting water from unsafe sources require external assistance, thereby compromising their access.
Caregivers of children also linked the lack of water to infant mortality, citing instances where clinics turned them away during labour, leading them to resort to home births due to the distance to referral hospitals.
Additionally, children noted the necessity of sharing water sources with animals, particularly in Matabeleland South Province, putting them at risk of animal attacks and the transmission of zoonotic diseases.
Shortages of water were also linked to poor menstrual hygiene amongst adolescent girls.
Children pointed out that floods, particularly caused by excessive rainfall in a short time frame due to climate change, pose significant health risks for them.
Those with disabilities noted that floods impede their mobility, leaving them vulnerable to drowning and hypothermia as they struggle to reach safety.
Additionally, children from all ten provinces highlighted how floods devastate infrastructure such as schools, bridges, and clinics, hampering their access to vital services.
Both urban and rural children highlighted how droughts compromise their access to nutritious food by depleting livestock and crops, exacerbating malnutrition.
Furthermore, they emphasised that droughts have disrupted power generation in the country, particularly affecting hydro-electricity production, consequently limiting access to essential services.
“We experienced heavy rains that resulted in water logging in our fields affecting our crops.
As a result, plant growth was affected, and we did not health due to power shortages. Children with disabilities also mentioned how the scarcity of harvest much from the fields.”
Putting children at the centre of climate investments is a moral and economic imperative.
It is essential that we prioritise the needs and well-being of children in the face of climate change, and that we invest in climate resilience and adaptation measures that support their health, education, and economic development.
By doing so, we can ensure that children are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in a low-carbon economy, and that they are able to contribute to the transition to a sustainable future.
As the world continues to grapple with the challenges of climate change, it is clear that children will play a critical role in shaping the future of our planet.
By putting children at the centre of climate investments, we can ensure that their needs and well-being are prioritised, and that they are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to mitigate the effects of climate change. The future of our planet depends on it.
With the escalating impact of climate change on children’s well-being, there’s a pressing demand for increased investment in child-centred climate strategies.
This is essential to amplify clime-resilient programmes, enhance household and caregiver resilience to climate shocks, and mitigate the long-term effects of climate change on future generations.
- *Gary Gerald Mtombeni is a journalist based in Harare. He writes here in his own personal capacity. For feedback Email garymtombeni@gmail.com/ call- +263778861608