They’re paying the highest price’ — SCI says children are worst hit by climate change

Save the Children International (SCI), the charity organisation, says children are worst hit by climate crisis.

Amanuel Mamo, director of advocacy, campaigns, media and communication for SCI, Nigeria, spoke on Thursday at a COP28 simulation event on climate change tagged “Children climate ambassadors forum” and the “Climate action assembly”, in Abuja.

Mamo noted that children are more susceptible to the harmful effects of climate crisis owing to their psychological vulnerabilities.

“Children have contributed the least to the climate crisis, and yet we know that they are paying the highest price,” he said.

“While children share many of the same rights as adults, their violations due to climate change are experienced with greater severity due to their physiological and psychological vulnerabilities.

“In addition, children have a number of specific rights, such as the right to childhood, to primary education and to protection – all of which are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.”

Mamo said the event was organised to give children a say in conversations that affect them, and urged citizens to contribute their quota in preserving the planet.

“We recognize that we do have a shared responsibility to the environment beyond legal and regulatory requirements,” he said.

“So, we call upon all parties to develop a culture of responsible behaviour in preserving a liveable planet earth for the next generation.”

“At the end, I’m strongly hopeful that children will use this togetherness to come up with their own manifesto to contribute to building a long term approach and strategy to tackle climate crisis in Nigeria and globally.”

Climate experts have warned that in the coming years, extreme weather events, including intense droughts, floods, wildfires, and cyclones, are projected to increase.

Governments around the world have been urged to take more climate actions that will restore natural environments.