Some 96% of children breathe polluted air, Maria Osbeck, UNICEF's regional advisor on sustainability and climate, said at the high-level national event on climate change and children held at ADA University as part of the Baku Climate Action Week, Report informs.
She noted that 160 million children in Europe and Central Asia suffer from climate change: "In 2021, 6,400 children died at an early age due to air pollution, and 85% of them died before reaching the age of one. This is while one out of ten children is at risk of facing river floods."
The UNICEF official stated that 53% of children live in areas sensitive to water scarcity.
Touching on the issue of climate change awareness, Osbeck emphasized the importance of building skills for green transition, establishing a climate-resilient education system, installing greener and safer facilities, and conducting youth-led climate events. The expert also mentioned that Azerbaijan's experience at COP29 could be an example to the world.