Kathmandu:Millions of children in Nepal are facing escalating climate-related risks that threaten their health, nutrition, education, and future prospects, according to a new advocacy brief launched by UNICEF.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the report, titled “Growing Up in a Climate Hotspot The Risks Shaping the Lives and Futures of Nepal’s Children,” highlights how climate change is reshaping childhood across Nepal. It calls for urgent action to prioritize children in climate policy, financing, and action.
The report reveals that 9.9 million children in Nepal are exposed to unhealthy levels of air pollution, while 7.3 million face drought conditions, impacting water security and nutrition. Additionally, 5.7 million children endure extreme heat, and 2.9 million are vulnerable to landslides triggered by rainfall. An estimated 2.4 million children are exposed to multiple high-intensity climate hazards, complicating recovery efforts.
Despite development gains, the brief notes significant vulnerabilities remain, with only 47.5% of the population having access to safely managed drinking water, and 22% of children living in multidimensional poverty. Climate-related shocks are increasing the risks of child labor, marriage, disease outbreaks, and learning disruptions.
UNICEF Representative to Nepal, Ms. Alice Akunga, emphasized that the climate crisis is increasingly becoming a child rights crisis, noting that children are among those bearing the greatest consequences of climate change. She highlighted the importance of placing children at the center of climate action as Nepal prepares for global climate discussions at COP31.
The report also emphasizes the unequal experience of climate risks, affecting children living in poverty, girls, children with disabilities, and those from marginalized communities more severely. In response, the Government of Nepal has endorsed the Declaration on Children, Youth, and Climate Action, committing to child-responsive climate initiatives.
UNICEF Nepal is urging the government to integrate children’s rights into climate policies and adaptation plans, and calls on stakeholders to invest in climate-resilient health, education, and social protection systems. The agency stresses the importance of including children and young people in climate decision-making processes.
The brief underscores the leadership of children and young people in advocating for stronger climate responses and emphasizes the need for climate-resilient educational and infrastructural investments.