Children in developing countries are among those hardest hit by climate change. They’re experiencing the effects every day, but they are the least to blame for the changes.
Earlier in 2012, we asked small groups of children in some of the countries most affected by climate change how changing weather affected their lives.
Read more about our Speak up for Children campaign, which asks Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey to fill the Green Climate Fund, which could protect millions of children around the world from the devastating impacts of climate change.
In the Philippines, many children said that the winds had got stronger. "During a typhoon with strong winds, we can’t even play inside the house because of poor housing condition. Rooftops are also blown away."
In this photo, a child is surveying land damaged by Tropical Storm Washi in January 2012.
But wind isn't the only problem. The weather is now very changeable, and there are shifts in heat and rainfall several times a day. The children said that the intense heat from the sun burns their skin.
© UNICEF/NYHQ2012-0009/Jeoffrey Maitem
In rural Mongolia, many children miss out on school because their families need them to help with herding livestock. Climate change is making winters increasingly cold, which makes these children’s work even harder.
© Preslava Nenova-Knight/2011
In Arkhangai, rural Mongolia, this 16-year-old girl is responsible for most of the herding of the family’s livestock. Her parents made her drop out of school when she was 13. She doesn’t know why. She herds livestock alone during extreme winter weather. "I always have frostbite. I am very afraid during the snow blizzards, of getting lost - it is almost impossible to see my way through the snow."
© Preslava Nenova-Knight/2011
This boy, also 16, lives with his two younger brothers, father and mother over an hour’s off-road drive from the nearest school.
He’s been herding the family’s livestock almost every day for a few years now. He also fetches water for the household. This is hardest in the winter because he has to lift big, heavy and slippery blocks of ice and load them onto the horses.
He says he would have liked to go to school.
© Preslava Nenova-Knight/2011
Children on the Pacific island of Kiribati have noticed several changes to their environment and weather, including the rising sea level, heavy rain and drought.
"[The sea level is] affecting us and everyone, and people are uncomfortable due to these changes", say the children. "[Heavy rain] makes us lose our food, land and things."
They suggested building houses higher off the ground to prevent the water from coming in. "We must prepare ourselves before a flood".
© UNICEF/NYHQ2006-2457/Giacomo Pirozzi
Children in Indonesia took photos and drew pictures to explain the impact of the very hot weather. "It's so hot in the yard. I don't want to play sport any more", said one boy.
© UNICEF 2011
This child's photo shows how the heat makes it hard to concentrate at school as well. "It's so hot in the classroom, sometimes we fall asleep."
© UNICEF 2011
As well as searing heat, the Indonesian children described another extreme: heavy rain and flooding. "The rain never stops now", said one child. "I feel a bit worried because there are still a lot of people who are not aware about the climate change that is happening."
© UNICEF/Indonesia/2011
