Brazilian children born in 2020 will experience 6.8 times more heat waves and 2.8 times more floods and crop losses over their lifetimes than those born in 1960. The data can be found in a report published by the Núcleo Ciência pela Infância (NCPI).
The study points to a continuous increase in extreme natural events in Brazil. Records jumped from 1,779 in 2015 to 6,772 in 2023. The research reveals how the development of children up to six years old is impacted in Brazil by this greater exposure to risks resulting from climate change.
As a result, these children are the most exposed to impacts on health, nutrition, learning opportunities, access to care, safety, and nutrition.
This age group, which corresponds to early childhood, currently represents 18.1 million people in Brazil.
These impacts of the climate crisis in such a delicate phase of development can compromise physical, cognitive, and emotional capacities for life and bring consequences such as greater exposure to diseases, cognitive and academic deficits, economic instability, food insecurity, lack of housing, and forced displacement, she observed.
Vulnerability
Experts also argued that this exposure further aggravates vulnerability. In Brazil, more than one-third (37.4%) of children up to four years old are in food insecurity, with five percent of them suffering from chronic malnutrition, the report points out.
This population is also the most affected when extreme events lead to forced displacements, as occurred in the state of Rio Grande do Sul in 2024, when 580,000 people were displaced and more than 3,930 children up to five years old were taken to public shelters.
“Climate policies, therefore, need to integrate the protection of children’s rights and ensure listening and participation channels for families and communities in decision-making,” the text says.
Education
Scientists also observed that, in 2024, extreme natural events led 1.18 million children and adolescents to miss classes. In Rio Grande do Sul alone, 55,749 class hours were lost due to floods and flash floods.
“Protecting early childhood in the face of the climate emergency is not a choice, it is a priority,” said Alicia Matijasevich, associate professor at the University of São Paulo (USP) School of Medicine, who also coordinated the study.
The report gathers recommendations for the development of child-centered climate policies – such as strengthening primary health care and improving basic sanitation systems and drinking water supply, in addition to encouraging food and nutritional security.
Sustainable practices, protocols for climate disasters, and the creation of cooling zones with green areas and shade in daycare centers and schools are also listed as paths to be followed based on the comprehensive care model.
“We are not saying that this entire generation will have its development compromised, but it will if nothing is done,” emphasized Márcia Castro.
“Everyone has a role to play, provided that a long-term vision is adopted and contributes to a generation. This is extremely important,” she concluded.
Source: Agência Brasil