Child-Centred Risk Reduction Research-into-Action Brief: Child-centred climate change adaptation approaches and household and community resilience

The impacts of climate change pose risks to children’s health, safety and survival; education; and family and individual security. However, children are not only passive victims. There is a growing body of evidence that demonstrates how child-centred responses to climate change can and do contribute to building the resilience of individual children, their households and their wider community. Children have repeatedly demonstrated that they can be effective communicators of climate risks and information, including communication that leads to behaviour change. They possess unique perceptions of risks, and distinctive knowledge and experiences, and are capable of identifying and implementing viable, locally appropriate adaptation responses.

However, barriers remain that can prevent children’s inclusion and full participation in community resilience-building programming. Interventions that fully integrate the whole of community – including children – would enhance both children’s and their communities’ resilience.