A/HRC/35/13 A. Extreme weather and natural disasters 7. Climate change contributes to the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. Globally, nearly 160 million children have been identified as living in areas of high or extremely high drought severity. 6 More than half a billion children live in zones of extremely high flood occurrence, and approximately 115 million children live in zones of high or extremely high tropical cyclone risk. 7 Even under a medium-low emission scenario, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts a global sea-level rise of 0.53 metres by 2100, with coastal and low-lying areas at risk of submergence, flood damage, erosion and impeded drainage. 8 Floods and other natural disasters caused by extreme weather are likely to elevate mortality and morbidity among children. 8. Young children are more susceptible to injury and death during natural disasters. In the aftermath of the 2010 floods in Pakistan, rates of under-5 mortality in flood-affected areas were notably higher than the national average.9 Natural disasters can also result in the separation of children from their family unit, increasing their vulnerability to subsequent harm. 9. Climate change is also expected to increase the duration and intensity of heat waves. This will affect children disproportionately, as their bodies adapt at a slower rate to changes in heat and they may suffer from heat rash, heat-related cramps, exhaustion, renal disease, respiratory illness, stroke and death.10 10. Extreme weather events can disrupt access to essential educational, health and housing services. For example, children’s access to education can be interrupted by damage to educational facilities and critical infrastructure and by the use of schools as emergency shelters.11 Similarly, damage to health infrastructure and essential drug supplies can make post-emergency interventions less effective. Floods and landslides, sea-level rise and powerful storms can degrade and destroy housing units and water and sanitation infrastructure, worsening living conditions, particularly for children, in unplanned and underserviced settlements.12 11. Climate change-related disasters can also disrupt child protection systems and exacerbate pre-existing tensions and conflicts, leaving children susceptible to abuse, child labour, trafficking and other forms of exploitation.13 B. Water scarcity and food insecurity 12. Climate change is already affecting water and food supplies, with severe consequences for children in poor communities. Changing patterns of precipitation, sealevel rise and increased evaporation as a result of climate change will reduce surface and 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 4 UNICEF, Unless We Act Now. Ibid. Christopher B. Field and others, eds., Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability, Working Group II contribution to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (New York, Cambridge University Press, 2014), pp. 368-369. UNICEF, Unless We Act Now, p. 30; see also WHO, “Pakistan floods 2010: early recovery plan for the health sector” (2011), p. 52. See, for example, Johns Hopkins Medicine, “Heat-related illnesses (heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat stroke)”, available from www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/pediatrics/heatrelated_illnesses_heat_cramps_heat_exhaustion_heat_stroke_90,P01611/. Katie Harris and Kelly Hawrylyshyn, “Climate extremes and child rights in South Asia: a neglected priority” (Overseas Development Institute, 2012). See generally A/64/255 on climate change and the right to adequate housing, para. 21 on the disproportionate impacts on children. Sheridan Bartlett, “Climate change and urban children: impacts and implications for adaptation in low- and middle-income countries”, Environment and Urbanization, vol. 20, No. 2 (October 2008), pp. 509-510; Global Protection Cluster, “Strengthening protection in natural disaster response: children”, available at www.globalprotectioncluster.org/en/tools-and-guidance/essential-protectionguidance-and-tools/protection-in-natural-disasters-essential-guidance-and-tools.html.