Governments in South Asia, which is highly vulnerable to the health impacts of climate change, must integrate child welfare into climate policies.
Last summer, record-breaking temperatures, soaring above 50 degrees in some regions, were observed across South Asia including in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India. The extreme heat triggered widespread health alerts, prompting governments to issue medical advisories and warn citizens about health risks. This was followed by devastating torrential rain in Nepal, Bangladesh, and India in June-September. The region also saw landslides, storms, earthquakes, droughts, and cold waves. This year, heatwave warnings have been issued for many parts, including India. These are not isolated, stand-alone incidents but part of an ever-growing crisis, potentially jeopardising the prospects of our future generations.
Priyanka Tomar & Neethi Rao explore how children are especially vulnerable to the health impacts of climate change.
