UNICEF Report Highlights Nearly a Billion Children Globally Exposed to Extremely High Water Stress

GS Paper II Social Justice

Context:

Recently, UNICEF released “The Climate Changed Child” report throws a spotlight on the threat to children due to water vulnerability.

Global Water Stress Exposure: Approximately half of the world’s children (953 million) faced high or extremely high water stress in 2022.

About United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF):

It was created by the United Nations General Assembly on 11 December 1946.
Headquarters: New York, USA.
Goal: To provide emergency food and healthcare to children and mothers in countries that had been devastated by World War II.
In 1950, UNICEF’s mandate was extended to address the long-term needs of children and women in developing countries everywhere.
In 1953 it became a permanent part of the United Nations System.

Vulnerability Breakdown:
- In 2022, 739 million children experienced high or extremely high water scarcity.
- 436 million children lived in areas with high or extremely high water vulnerability.
High Heatwave Frequency:
- Building on the Children’s Climate Risk Index (CCRI) released in 2021, the authors found that 559 million children are currently exposed to high heatwave frequency.
  - This can impact all the 2.02 billion children globally by 2050, the new report added
- Around 470 million children encountered high or extremely high drought risk.
Health Implications: Extreme weather events linked to climate change, like floods, compromise safe water supply.
- Floods contribute to the contamination of water, leading to health issues like diarrhea.

Global Movement and Climate Action Plan:
- UNICEF calls for a global movement and launches the Sustainability and Climate Action Plan.
- The plan aims to address global gaps in protecting vulnerable children.
UNICEF’s Call to Action at COP28:
- Children on Climate Change Agenda: Urges COP28 to prioritize children in the climate change agenda.
- Global Stocktake: Calls for embedding children and intergenerational equity in the Global Stocktake process.
  - Global Stocktake is a process for countries and stakeholders to see where they are collectively making progress towards meeting the goals of the Paris Climate Change Agreements and where they are not.
Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA): Advocates for the inclusion of children and climate-resilient essential services in the decision on the Global Goal on Adaptation.
- GGA collective commitment under Article 7.1 of the Paris Agreement is aimed at “enhancing” (the world’s) adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience, and reducing vulnerability to climate change.
Loss and Damage Fund: Calls for making the Loss and Damage Fund child-responsive, embedding child rights in governance and decision-making processes.
- The fund is aimed to provide financial assistance to countries most vulnerable and impacted by the effects of climate change and was a highlight at COP27.