One billion children worldwide live in countries highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, said Saja Farooq Abdullah, UNICEF Representative in Azerbaijan, Report informs.
Farooq Abdullah made the statement during the "High-level National Event on Climate Change and Children" held at ADA University as part of the Baku Climate Action Week.
The UNICEF official emphasized that the climate crisis directly impacts children's rights. "One billion children worldwide live in countries highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. For the past 30 years, children have not received the necessary attention, but in the last two years, the impact of climate change on children has come into focus," she said.
Abdullah further highlighted the far-reaching consequences of climate change on children's well-being.
She added that climate change not only affects children's mental development but also deprives them of educational opportunities. “Shockingly, 88% of diseases are caused by climate change, with children under the age of 5 being particularly vulnerable. All these statistics show that the impact of climate change on children is immense," Abdullah stressed.