India’s Children Are Most Vulnerable to Climate Events and Poverty: Report

774 million children across the world are affected by climate change according to the report by Save the Children.

Save the Children UK’s Youth Advisory Board. Ayesha, 16, says that they may be much younger than decision-makers but “we still have valid opinions and ideas on how we can make this world a better place”.

Photo: Jordan Woodgate/Save the Children

Over 222 million children in India are living under the 'dual burden' of poverty and vulnerability to adverse climate impacts, according to a recent report by Save the Children.

The report found that 183 million children across the world face the triple threat of high climate risk, multidimensional poverty and conflict.

More than half of these children live in only five countries: Nigeria, India, Ethiopia, Afghanistan and Democratic Republic of Congo.

India approximately 51%

India is on the top of the list of countries where children are under the threat of both climate change and poverty.

Approximately 51% children in India are impacted by both-- poverty and climate change.

352 million children across India are at the risk of facing at least one climate event per year, according to the report.

"Delayed rains and extreme temperatures have been hampering food production in China, India, Europe and North America," the report revealed.

"Climate change isn’t something people get to choose to believe or not: it’s happening," the report said quoting a 12-year-old boy, living in an urban slum Tamil Nadu in India.

The report also emphasised on a larger demand for change from children across the globe, including India.

73% of children think adults should take more of an involvement in climate action.

774 Million Children Across the World Are at Risk

The report has found that 774 million children across the world are adversely affected by climate change, many of them are also living in poverty and therefore do not have the resources against these climate events.

It analyses the risk factors for children through groups that are affected by the following:

• Climate vulnerability

• Poverty

• Conflict zones

• Those affected by two of the three aforementioned categories

• Those affected by all three

The report, 'Generation Hope: 2.4 billion reasons to end the global climate and inequality crisis', was done in collaboration with climate researchers from Vrije Universiteit Brussel.

Where do children affected by multidimensional poverty and high climate risk live?

Children in both, Developing and Developed Countries At Risk

In Asia, 350 million children are at risk due to both climate emergency and poverty, the 'double threat'.

Cambodia ranked highest on most likely to face this 'double threat', with 72% of children falling in the category, followed by Myanmar at 64% and Afghanistan at 57%.

While these are all developing countries and 653 million children are at risk, higher-income countries are not exempted from the risk of climate change and poverty.

Out of the global total, 121 million children who are at risk of the 'double threat', belong to higher income countries.

With COP27 and G20 summits approaching in November, Sudarshan Suchi, Chief Executive Officer of Save the Children, India believes that our most vulnerable children should be at the forefront of our leaders minds.

"In particular, the world’s richest countries, whose historic emissions have driven the climate and inequality crisis, must lead the way in unlocking trillions in financing for countries that are struggling to protect their children from its impacts, including through climate finance - particularly for adaptation and loss and damage."

Sudarshan Suchi, Chief Executive Officer, Save the Children, India

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