Save the Children's Urgent Call at COP28: 27 Million Children in Crisis
Save the Children, in anticipation of the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, has unveiled a stark analysis. The organization reports a staggering 135% increase, compared to 2021, in the number of children—27 million—facing hunger and malnutrition due to extreme weather events caused by the climate crisis.
As the world gears up for COP28, Save the Children issues a compelling plea to world leaders. The organization emphasizes the alarming surge in child suffering, attributing it to the increasing frequency of extreme weather events. Save the Children urges developed nations, responsible for high carbon emissions, to prioritize climate action, highlighting that a mere 2.4% of the global climate fund is allocated to address the specific impact on children.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification by the United Nations reveals that 57 million people faced an emergency food crisis in 12 countries in the past year due to floods, droughts, and heatwaves. Save the Children estimates that 27 million children are among those affected, showcasing a nearly twofold increase in the impact of extreme weather events since 2018.
The Horn of Africa, including Ethiopia and Somalia, stands out with a sharp rise in climate-related hunger crises. Somalia, enduring consecutive seasons of drought and unprecedented rainfall, exemplifies the destructive cycle. Heavy rains have displaced hundreds of thousands, exacerbating the already dire situation for children and families, leaving them cut off from essential resources.
Individual stories, like that of Sadia, a mother of eight from Somalia, highlight the devastating consequences. Displaced twice this year due to climate extremes, Sadia's once prosperous life as a farmer and herder has been shattered by the climate crisis. Similar stories unfold in Pakistan, where floods have left two million children acutely malnourished, underscoring the humanitarian toll of climate change.
Save the Children's response extends globally, with projects in Asian countries vulnerable to climate crises. From carbon-reducing drinking water facilities in Bangladesh to forest restoration projects in Vietnam and Nepal, the organization strives to build resilience in communities. In Bandung District, Indonesia, a climate change adaptation project using Korea's weather satellite aims to enhance early warning systems.
Save the Children's efforts also involve children directly, as seen in a plastic pollution campaign with Hyundai Motor Company in Vietnam. Child-led environmental campaigns and tree planting initiatives underscore the commitment to empowering communities.
Jae Kwang Lee, Save the Children's International Business Team Leader, emphasizes the organization's mission: to enhance the capacity of communities, especially children, to adapt to climate change. As climate disasters become more frequent, Save the Children remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting the most vulnerable in the face of this global challenge.
[FAQ] Q1: How many children are currently affected by the climate crisis? A1: Save the Children reports a stark increase, with 27 million children facing hunger and malnutrition due to extreme weather events.
Q2: What is Save the Children's appeal at COP28? A2: Save the Children urges world leaders to prioritize climate action and increase funding, emphasizing that only 2.4% of the global climate fund addresses children's specific needs.
Q3: How is Save the Children contributing to climate resilience? A3: Save the Children is executing projects globally, from carbon-reducing facilities to forest restoration, aiming to empower communities, especially children, to adapt to climate change.
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