Save the Children International (SCI), has projected that in the coming years, droughts are expected to intensify, rainfall variability is projected to increase, and extreme weather events would persist.
SCI, Director of Advocacy and Campaign, Amanuel Mamo, disclosed this on Wednesday during the COP28 Simulation Event on Climate Change in Abuja.
The organisation also projected that new human and livestock diseases would increase, new conflicts over the decreasing resources would also increase, while more people would be displaced by the rising oceans, floods, wildfire, drought and expanding deserts.
Mamo said the simulation was a unique initiative designed to amplify the voices, choices and perspectives of children in climate discussions leading up to Conference of Parties 28 (COP28) World Climate Summit.
He noted that COP28 is an important international conference where countries convene to discuss and negotiate actions for combating climate change, building upon commitments and progress being made from the previous COP meetings.
He explained that the “Children Climate Ambassadors Forum” and the “Climate Action Assembly”, waa organised with an aim to enable children have their say in the decision-making process of an issue that affects them.
Mamo stressed that It serves as a vital platform for collaboration, policy enhancement, and innovation in our collective efforts to address climate challenges in Nigeria and the world.
He noted that climate change experts said the earth is now one degree centigrade warmer than the pre-industrial period, with evidence of high and increasing negative impacts on human lives.
Mamo stated: “As a result, in the coming years, droughts are expected to intensify, rainfall variability is projected to increase, extreme weather events will persist, new human and livestock diseases are projected to increase, new conflicts over the decreasing resources will increase and more people will be displaced by the rising oceans, floods, wildfire, drought and expanding deserts and the like. That is what we generally refer to as the effects of “climate change”.
He lamented that the climate crisis was the biggest challenge of the time, adding that it was a grave threat to children and their rights.
Mamo added: “Child rights might not even survive a global climate catastrophe. We have created a huge environmental debt to our children and the future generation.
“Children have contributed the least to the climate crisis, and yet we know that they are paying the highest price.
“While children share many of the same rights as adults, their violations due to climate change are experienced with greater severity due to their physiological and psychological vulnerabilities.”