From Australia to Philippines, children face future with more heatwaves, floods, droughts

Children will, on average, suffer seven times more heatwaves due to climate change than their grandparents did, according to a report by aid agency Save the Children

Those in low- and middle-income countries will bear the brunt, including poor mental health and disruptions to their education

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Primary school students wade through floodwaters in Pampanga, Philippines. File photo: AFP

Published: 11:37am, 27 Sep 2021Updated: 11:28pm, 27 Sep 2021

Children around the world will face a sharp jump in heatwaves, floods and droughts in their lives compared to their grandparents, researchers said on Monday, with teenagers from Nepal to Australia urging leaders not to turn a blind eye.

Children will, on average, suffer seven times more heatwaves and nearly three times more droughts, floods and crop failures due to fast-accelerating climate change, found a report from aid agency Save the Children.

Those in low- and middle-income countries will bear the brunt, with Afghan children likely to endure up to 18 times as many heatwaves as their elders, and children in Mali likely to live through up to 10 times more crop failures.

Children in Nepal rally to raise awareness on climate change in the Fridays for Future global campaign. Photo: Handout

“People are suffering, we shouldn’t turn a blind eye … Climate change is the biggest crisis of this era,” said Anuska, 15, sharing her experience of more heatwaves, intense rain and crop losses in her country, Nepal.

“I’m worried about climate change, about my future. It will almost be impossible for us to survive,” she told journalists.