Children in a changing climate

overview

This theme investigates how climate change will influence children’s futures, with respect to their empolyment opportunities, their migration prospects, their health outlook and their likelihood of being involved in armed conflict.

key questions

Climate change will impact children alongside other existing trends including rapid urbanisation, population growth, and greater displacement and migration.

This research theme asks:

• What are the impacts of climate change on children's livelihood and employment opportunities, and what are the potential benefits and disadvantages of livelihood diversification?

• What are the possible connections between natural resource scarcity associated with climate change and child migration?

• What are the risks to children's welfare from the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme events associated with climate change?

• How can the increased vulnerability of children to violence and exploitation from conflict caused or exacerbated by climate change be addressed?

• To what extent can education be treated as ‘climate insurance'? Can investing now in children's education in climate science and related expertise lead to better adaptive capacity to cope with future shocks and a greener generation?