Adolescents and youth are prioritising human rights in the climate change agenda

Climate change is increasingly affecting the human rights to life, food, health, safe drinking water and sanitation, housing, self-determination, culture, work, and development, especially of those people already vulnerable and marginalised because of multiple factors linked to geography, gender, age, poverty, disability, and cultural or ethnic background.1 Today’s adolescents and youth (aged 10-24) account for 1.8 billion people, 24% of the global population,2 and the larger proportion live in low and middle income countries facing extreme climate vulnerability.3 Almost every person under 18 is exposed to at least one climate stress, including heatwaves, cyclones, air pollution, and flooding.3 In addition to directly affecting their physical and mental health, climate hazards reduce young people’s access to nutrition, education, employment, healthcare services, and a safe environment.4 Current and future generations of young people will continue to suffer the greatest burden of climate change, despite historically contributing the least to greenhouse gas emissions.In…
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