ISLAMABAD: The imminent threat of climate change to pregnant women, babies, and children has been emphasized in a UN report, urging immediate attention ahead of the global Conference of the Parties (COP28) discussions on climate change in Dubai.
The report, titled “Call for Action,” highlights the underreporting and neglect of climate change’s impact on maternal and child health. It criticizes the absence of specific mentions of maternal or child health in most countries’ climate change response plans, labelling it as a significant oversight reflecting inadequate consideration for the needs of women, newborns, and children in climate change discussions.
Bruce Aylward, Assistant Director General for Universal Health Coverage, Life Course at the World Health Organization (WHO), stressed that while climate change endangers us all, its repercussions are particularly severe for pregnant women, babies, and children.
He added that we must proactively safeguard children’s futures by taking immediate climate action to ensure their well-being and survival, recognizing and addressing their unique vulnerabilities in our response to climate challenges.
The year 2023 has witnessed a series of catastrophic climate events—wildfires, floods, heatwaves, and droughts—displacing populations, devastating crops and livestock, and exacerbating air pollution. This escalating crisis poses severe health risks to pregnant women and children, amplifying the spread and severity of diseases such as cholera, malaria, and dengue.
Research indicates that the adverse effects of climate change can commence during pregnancy, leading to complications and adverse birth outcomes like preterm birth, low birth weight, and stillbirth. Moreover, these repercussions can extend throughout a child’s lifetime, impacting both physical and cognitive development.
“Action on climate change often ignores that children’s bodies and minds are uniquely vulnerable to pollution, deadly diseases and extreme weather,” said UNICEF Deputy Executive Director for Programmes, Omar Abdi.
He continued that neglecting this reality poses a severe threat to every child’s fundamental right to health and well-being. It is imperative that we prioritize urgent climate action centered around children, starting at COP28.
The report’s “Call for Action” delineates seven critical steps to mitigate these escalating risks, stressing the need for sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, climate finance initiatives, and integrating the specific requirements of pregnant women, babies, and children into climate and disaster-related policies. Additionally, it urges more comprehensive research into the impact of climate change on maternal and child health.
Diene Keita, Deputy Executive Director for Programmes at UNFPA, highlighted that addressing climate change while acknowledging the distinct vulnerabilities of women and girls necessitates a paradigm shift in our approach.
She added that our global solutions must not compromise gender equality but rather support and enhance it.
The report, jointly released by WHO, UNICEF, and UNFPA, accompanied by an advocacy brief from the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (PMNCH), echoes the urgency of placing the health needs of women, children, and adolescents at the forefront of climate policies, financing, and programs.
Rt Hon Helen Clark, PMNCH Board Chair and former Prime Minister of New Zealand, asserted that climate change presents an intergenerational injustice. Protecting the health and rights of women, children, and adolescents is imperative in confronting this crisis.
She emphasized that all stakeholders—from governments to the private sector and civil society—must champion policies and actions that safeguard the most vulnerable. Integrating the health needs of women, children, and adolescents into climate responses is not only a moral obligation but a strategic imperative for building resilient and healthy societies.
At COP28, delegates will commemorate the inaugural Day of Health, acknowledging the intrinsic connections between human health and the environment.
