CLIMATE CHANGE AND CHILDREN: A human security challenge Policy Review Paper

The evidence presented in this review confirms the centrality of children and their unique vulnerabilities to global, national and subnational policies and frameworks on climate change and human security. It also identifies a gap in existing agreements, protocols and policies that have not sufficiently recognized or addressed children’s issues in the past.
Protecting the environment and providing for the health, education and development of children are mutually inclusive goals. Almost any action taken to enhance environmental quality also helps meet the basic needs of children. It is therefore important not to separate climate change from other priorities, but rather to integrate comprehensive actions to include climate risk in development planning, programmes and projects.
This paper seeks to substantiate the need for frameworks and protocols that will recognize, protect and empower children and young people in light of the effects of climate change.