Our climate, our children, our responsibility: The implications of climate change for the world’s children

For the vast majority of people the impact of climate change means an increased risk of losing their homes and livelihoods, more disease, less security and sometimes death. Children in the world’s poorest communities are the most vulnerable. They are already seeing the impacts of climate change through malnutrition, disease, poverty, inequality and increasing risk of conflict – and ultimately an increase in child mortality rates. This report draws attention to the impacts of climate change upon children. It strongly argues that both mitigation and adaptation are necessary as highlighted by the Stern Review, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the most recent Human Development Report. There is increasing global consensus on the way forward, including the need for international collective action.