Over the tipping point: How multiple, overlapping climate and environmental shocks and hazards on children in the East Asia and Pacific region are eroding their coping strategies, exacerbating inequality, and forever changing their futures 

The East Asia and Pacific (EAP) region is one of the most impacted to multiple types of overlapping climate and environmental shocks and stresses, 41% of children in the region face 5 or more shocks, compared to global average of 14%. Climate shocks are increasing in frequency, and interacting with non-climate shocks like the COVID pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis, among others, creating multiplier effects and cascading impacts in the region, leading to a ‘polycrisis’ – a situation with multiple near-simultaneous shocks with strong interdependencies. Other human-driven trends amplify these effects, leading to more shocks, thus creating knock-on effects on several interconnected systems and sectors.

This report unveils the intensifying frequency and compounding effects of climate-related hazards intertwined with non-climate shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic and socio-economic challenges.

Given that children are already facing the impacts of climate change, adaptation and resilience measures are needed now to reduce the full force of impacts.