Climate change disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, with children being the most susceptible to its risks. They face heightened exposure to climate and environmental hazards such as extreme heat, air pollution, and natural disasters. Understanding the current and future risks that these young populations will face due to climate and environmental changes is essential for effective advocacy and informed decision-making. It also supports the development of strategies and operations aimed at reducing the adverse impacts on children's health, safety, and well-being.
Accurate assessment of these risks for children across various geographic locations requires comprehensive, continuous, and high-resolution data. Earth observation (EO) satellites and climate system models provide powerful resources to capture the spatial and temporal dynamics of climate and environmental factors affecting children. They offer insights into trends in temperature changes, land use alterations, pollution levels, and disaster patterns, all of which are critical for understanding the specific vulnerabilities of children to climate change. However, despite their potential, there are challenges in effectively leveraging them for this purpose. Issues such as data accessibility, integration with socio-economic and demographic information, and the technical capacity required to analyze observed and modelled data need to be addressed. Moreover, translating these data insights into actionable policies and interventions for child protection presents additional complexities.
This session will integrate Earth sciences applications that enhance our understanding of the disproportionate impact of climate change on children. We will discuss successful case studies, innovative methodologies, and interdisciplinary approaches that have been employed to utilize multisource data effectively. The session will also highlight the challenges and limitations of observations and modelling data applications, offering perspectives on how to overcome these obstacles. By exploring these aspects, we aim to support efforts in measuring, mitigating, and ultimately reducing the climate-related risks faced by children globally, thus safeguarding their future.