Document Type

Brief

Publication Date

11-2023

Abstract

Climate change is affecting the health and well-being of adolescents and young people (AYP) worldwide. This happens through direct exposure pathways but mainly indirectly, by influencing economic and food insecurity, access to health services, and harmful gender norms and social inequalities. According to a recent meta-analysis of 130 studies, climate change disproportionately harms the health of women and girls, especially younger generations. There are intergenerational inequities in exposure to climate extremes. A child born in 2020 will face an up to sevenfold increase in extreme climate events compared to one born in 1960. These events will have cascading harms and impacts on the life trajectories of the next generation. This includes impacting their health, economic prospects, and well-being, disproportionately for AYP who face additional gender-related harms. At the same time, young people can and do also contribute to climate action. As noted in this brief, future research is necessary to understand the lived experiences of young people and how climate change is affecting their physical and mental health, especially sexual and reproductive health.

Comments

Also available in French and Spanish

DOI

10.31899/sbsr2023.1048

Language

English

Project

GIRL Center; Population, Environmental Risks, and the Climate Crisis (PERCC)

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