Climate change is set to disproportionately affect today’s children, especially Generation Alpha, with predictions of increased exposure to extreme events like heatwaves, floods, and crop failures.
A new study warns that, depending on global warming levels, up to 1.5 billion children will face extreme heatwaves, and 431 million will experience food shortages due to climate disasters.
Researchers emphasise the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to protect young generations.
Even with a 1.5°C warming scenario, over half of today’s children will face unprecedented heatwaves, compared to only 16% of those born in 1960.
The most vulnerable children, especially those in impoverished areas, will bear the brunt of these climate extremes, highlighting the social injustice of climate change.