Escalating Risks to Child Health from Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss
Context:
A review paper published in Nature outlines the significant health risks posed to children by climate change and biodiversity loss, emphasising their interconnected impact.
Declining Biodiversity and its Climate Implications: Biodiversity has declined by 69% globally since 1970, affecting climate dynamics and disproportionately impacting children’s health.
Impact on Microbial Diversity and Immune Systems: Loss of microbial diversity undermines immune regulation, increasing the prevalence of allergies and inflammatory disorders in children.
- Exposure to diverse microbes is critical for immune system development, which is hindered by biodiversity loss.
Green Spaces and Mental Health Benefits: Access to green spaces improves mental health, mood, and cognitive development, particularly in children with ADHD and anxiety.
- Absence of green spaces leads to higher rates of obesity, physical inactivity, and sleep inadequacies.
Heatwaves: Rising Exposure and Health Risks: Over 820 million children are highly exposed to heatwaves, increasing risks of heat stroke, dehydration, and learning difficulties.
- Heat exposure during pregnancy correlates with higher rates of preterm births and low birthweights.
Flooding and Associated Health Threats: Approximately 240 million children are exposed to coastal flooding, raising risks of waterborne diseases and malnutrition.
Vector-Borne Diseases in a Warming World: Climate change expands the range of vector-borne diseases like malaria and dengue, putting 600 million children at high risk.
- Children, with less developed immune systems, are particularly vulnerable to these infections.
Air Pollution and Respiratory Illnesses: Air pollution, linked to biodiversity loss, affects 2 billion children and contributes to respiratory illnesses such as asthma.
- WHO attributes 1.5 million child deaths annually to air and water pollution.
Biodiversity and Medical Innovation: Biodiversity supports medical innovation, with natural sources like the cinchona tree providing critical medicines such as quinine for malaria.
- Loss of biodiversity complicates disease control, threatening resources needed for treatments.
Child Rights Crisis Linked to Environmental Health: Biodiversity loss and climate change are recognised as a child rights crisis, with the UN emphasising children’s right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.
