Furthermore, the consequences of rising temperatures will not only affect childrens physical environment but also their health. Higher temperatures contribute to the spread of diseases like malaria, cholera, and dengue, which are already causing harm to children in tropical regions. Malnutrition will also become a growing issue as agriculture faces challenges from changing weather patterns, putting children at risk of hunger and stunted growth.
Issues such as lack of access to quality education, inadequate healthcare, and limited job prospects for young adults are likely to deepen these divides. Children from marginalized communities”such as those living in poverty, racial minorities, and those with disabilities”are particularly at risk. The growing wealth gap between rich and poor nations will also exacerbate these issues, creating a vicious cycle that will be difficult to break.
Rising rates of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as obesity and diabetes are also contributing to poor health outcomes for children, particularly in developed nations. These diseases are linked to unhealthy lifestyles, poor nutrition, and sedentary habits, all of which are becoming more prevalent among children worldwide.
To mitigate the risks outlined in the report, UNICEF advocates for comprehensive climate policies that include investment in renewable energy, disaster preparedness, and the protection of vulnerable communities. It also calls for stronger social safety nets to reduce poverty, improve education systems, and protect childrens rights in the face of rising economic inequality.
As we approach 2050, the warning from UNICEF is clear: childrens wellbeing is at a critical juncture, and swift, decisive action is needed to ensure that the next generation can grow up in a world where their potential can be fully realized.
Demographic shifts, worsening climate change and rapid technological transformation risk creating a bleak future for youth in the mid-21st century, the United Nations agency for children warned Tuesday in an annual report.
“Children are experiencing a myriad of crises, from climate shocks to online dangers, and these are set to intensify in the years to come,” Catherine Russell, executive director of United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), wrote in a statement marking the release of the agency’s annual report.
Decades of progress, particularly for girls, are under threat. The report was released by the UN agency for children a day before the World Children’s Day.
This day is commemorated every year on November 20 since 1954 when the UN designated this day to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children’s welfare.
This year, UNICEF uses its report to project forward to 2050 identifying three “major trends” that in addition to unpredictable conflicts pose threats to children unless policymakers make changes.
The first risk is demographic change, with the number of children expected to remain similar to current figures of 2.3 billion, but they will represent a smaller share of the larger and ageing global population of around 10 billion.
While the proportion of children will decline across all regions, their numbers will explode in some of the poorest areas, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
This offers the potential to boost economic growth, but only if the new young population has access to quality education, health care, and jobs, UNICEF notes.
In some developed countries, children could make up less than 10% of the population by 2050, raising concerns about their “visibility” and rights in societies focused on aging populations. The second threat is climate change.
If current greenhouse gas emission trends continue, by 2050 children could face eight times more heatwaves than in 2000, three times more extreme flooding, and 1.7 times more wildfires, UNICEF projects.
New technology, particularly artificial intelligence, has the potential to power new innovation and progress but could also widen existing inequalities between rich and poor countries.
An estimated 95% of people in developed nations have internet access, compared to just 26% in the least developed, often due to a lack of electricity, connectivity, or devices.
“Failure to remove barriers for children in these countries, especially for those living in the poorest households, means letting an already disadvantaged generation fall even further behind,” according to UNICEF.
Being connected also carries risks. The unchecked proliferation of new technologies poses threats to children and their personal data, making them vulnerable to online predators.
The of future faces many risks, but what we wanted to demonstrate is that the solutions are in the hands of todays decision-makers,” Cecile Aptel, deputy director of UNICEF’s research division, told AFP.
Source: SABC
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