Climate change induced disaster

About 2 million people - or nearly one in ten in Sri Lanka - have been impacted by the cyclone, with 114,000 people living in temporary shelters after nearly 74,000 homes were damaged, according to the Sri Lanka Disaster Management Centre

Despite three decades of pledges and some progress, the 30th UN climate summit takes place against a backdrop of catastrophic climate disasters that are forcing millions of children from their homes, disrupting their education, and causing hunger and threats to their health and safety.

The homes of an estimated 160,000 children have been damaged or destroyed in eastern and southern Mexico following some of the worst rains and flooding to hit the country in recent years, said Save the Children

Over 60 children from 16 African countries are urging their heads of state at the Africa Climate Summit this week to consider their views and experiences in shaping climate policies, with children in most of the continent found to be at high or extremely high risk of the impacts of climate change.

Save the Children aid workers travelling on a herd of donkeys have delivered the first emergency medical supplies, food, water and tarpaulins to a remote village in western Sudan that was cut off by a massive landslide this week

Across the region countries including China, Pakistan, Thailand, Laos and the Philippines are experiencing storms and earlier-than-usual monsoon seasons partly brought about by climate change.

The historic climate change ruling at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) today is a landmark win for child campaigners, acknowledging the adverse impacts of climate change on child rights, and offering children renewed hope, Save the Children said.

Almost a third of today’s five-year-olds – about 38 million children – will be spared a lifetime’s “unprecedented” exposure to extreme heat if the world meets the 1.5°C warming target by 2100, Save the Children said.

As COP29 is coming to an end, Save the Children and child campaigners in Baku remind world leaders that children’s rights must be at the centre of negotiations over the climate finance goal.