KARACHI:
The recent report titled ‘The climate-changed child’ by Unicef raises significant concerns, revealing alarming data about the impact of climate change on children’s health. Shockingly, approximately one billion children are facing extreme water stress, and it’s estimated that over the next 30 years, more than 4 billion children will be born, facing increasingly high risk to their survival because of the global climate issues.
The report highlights that children worldwide are exposed to extreme water scarcity, droughts and floods. In Pakistan, a large number of children live in areas where access to safe drinking water remains an unattainable dream. Balochistan stands as a significant example, where countless children and adults die due to the lack of safe drinking water. Climate change increases the risks of severe droughts and floods, particularly affecting children in Pakistan and across the globe. These crises also significantly impact the education of Pakistani children, with around 23 million already out of school.
For Pakistan, addressing the climate crisis requires more resources, with an estimated need of more than $30 billion over the next seven to eight years, which is equivalent to 10% of Pakistan’s GDP. Given Pakistan’s significant population of young people and children, they are undeniably the nation’s future. Therefore, as COP28 approaches, it’s crucial for the government to revise its climate strategies and policies, specifically considering the impact on children. The Unicef report is a potent wake-up call, particularly for Pakistan.
Ismail
Quetta
Published in The Express Tribune, November 17th, 2023.
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