40 million children and adolescents are exposed to climate risks in Brazil, says Unicef

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More than immediate effects, such as lack of water, violence and respiratory diseases, climate risks represent a threat to the future of children and adolescents in Brazil.

At least 40 million Brazilians up to 18 years of age are exposed to more than one environmental risk in the country, such as pesticide contamination, air pollution, lack of water and river floods. The number represents 60% of the population in this age group in the country.

This is what the report Children, Adolescents and Climate Change in Brazil shows, published by Unicef ​​(United Nations Children’s Fund) this Wednesday (9).

The study brings together data from Unicef, articles and reports from Brazilian and international bodies to provide an overview of the climate and environmental situation in Brazil, with a focus on impacts among children and adolescents.

“They are the ones who contribute the least. [para os riscos]but those who will suffer the consequences more intensely and for longer”, says Paola Babos, UNICEF’s interim representative in Brazil.

The main damage listed in the document is contamination by pesticides —in the air or water—, which affects 27.8 million Brazilian children and adolescents and which can compromise the physical and intellectual development of the groups.

For Danilo Moura, UNICEF’s evaluation and monitoring officer, the plans to deal with the issue are still very technical, and “lack of people” in them.

“We talk about the use of pesticides as something very technical, as if it were about food production in general. But the principle has to be the prevention of this chemical use”, he says. “It is important to say that this policy must also take into account the specific risks of children and adolescents”, adds the expert.

Air pollution — which appears second on the list, with impacts on 24.8 million people under the age of 18 — should be a priority and already has commitments, such as the 2015 Paris Agreement.

“It is the assumption of the whole discussion. Brazil and other countries need to reduce emissions [de gases-estufa]we need a horizon of zero net emission in the coming decades or none of what we talk about here makes sense”, says Moura.

While all actions are considered urgent, it is necessary to identify which communities will be affected first. “Indigenous territories and traditional communities, the black population and girls are usually the most impacted groups”, says Paola.

The report was presented to Itamaraty in preparation for COP27, the UN (United Nations) conference on climate change, which will take place until the 18th in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. Unicef’s bet is the mobilization for agendas and decisions for youth made by young people who come from places of greater social vulnerability.

“Our role in dialogue is to encourage young people to recognize the problem and understand that they are the transforming subjects of these solutions”, says Rayanne França, official of Unicef’s adolescent citizenship program in Brazil.

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