Climate Change and Children in the Pacific Islands
Whilst recognition of climate change has moved beyond the science community, examination of the human and social dimensions of global warming is more recent. The differential impacts for children, as well as other demographic groups, are less developed.
In February 2010, UNICEF Pacific, based in Suva Fiji, engaged Nossal Institute to undertake a study on the impacts of Climate Change and Children in the Pacific.The study considered the impacts of climate change relating to survival, development, protection and participation.
The study focused on Tuvalu, Kiribati and Fiji – regarded as the frontline of climate change effects in the Pacific. It examined three dimensions:
- How does climate change affect children in the Pacific and how will it affect them in the future?
- Which stakeholders are already actively dealing with climate change issues across the Pacific region, with a particular focus on Fiji, Kiribati and Tuvalu, and are there any that handle the impact on children in particular?
- In what way should UNICEF Pacific engage in this field?
A particular focus of the research was talking with young people themselves. During the field visits, the researchers met with representatives of the Pacific Youth Council, national youth councils and groups of young environment activists and university students. In Tuvalu and Kiribati, we conducted exercises with children and young people from a church youth group in Funafuti; 22 children aged 5-12 from the Tuvalu Red Cross Juniors group; and also members of the Kiribati Youth Panel, including children who had travelled to Copenhagen in December 2009 for the UNICEF Children’s Climate Forum.
Key Nossal staff: Mia Urbano, Tilman Ruff, Grant Blashki
Photo source with permission: Mia Urbano