Forbes: Climate Change’s Threat for Children

A new UN report warns that the world will face climate change catastrophe from drought, floods, wildfires, food and water scarcity by 2030 – just 12 years from now. A growing world population also adds pressure – now standing at 7.7 billion, expected to near 10 billion in 2050 – up from 2.5 billion in 1950. “The most disadvantaged children, who often live in the world’s poorest and most polluted environments, are especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change,” writes Sophie Aziakou, with UNICEF, for Forbes. “The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a group of the world's leading climate scientists, is urging governments to take action to reduce emissions by 45% by 2030 in order to keep global warming at a maximum of 2.7 degrees F.” The report notes that climate change is already changing landcapes, displacing children and adults and leading to premature deaths. Communities must adapt by strengthening water, sanitation and food supplies. Even better, people should strive to conserve energy and rely on renewables rather than oil and coal. – YaleGlobal