Children at Risk: The Impact of Climate Change in Mexico
Children and adolescents in Mexico are facing significant risks due to climate change, as highlighted by a recent report from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The country ranks 54th out of 200 nations assessed in UNICEF’s Climate Risk Index for Children, which measures the exposure of young populations to climate threats and environmental degradation, as well as their vulnerability to these phenomena.
The report indicates that the adverse effects of climate change on children and adolescents in Mexico are directly linked to their exposure to climatic events in specific regions and the socio-economic conditions of poverty and social deprivation. These factors exacerbate their risk levels in the face of climate-induced disasters, according to the specialised agency of the United Nations (UN).
The findings are derived from the study titled “Childhood and Adolescence in the Face of Climate Change in Mexico,” which aims to provide evidence that can enhance public policies for both mitigation and adaptation to the climate crisis. The report emphasises the necessity of integrating the specific needs of children into areas such as health, education, nutrition, and general living conditions.
Over the past fifty years, the effects of climate change have become particularly apparent in Mexico, with an average national temperature rise of approximately 0.85°C. The country has also experienced an increased intensity of natural events such as hurricanes, droughts, landslides, extreme temperatures, torrential rains, floods, and wildfires. The report warns that, given the ongoing high emissions of greenhouse gases, the annual average temperature in Mexico is projected to rise by between 2°C and 2.5°C between 2041 and 2060. In this scenario, extreme weather events and their consequences are expected to increase in both frequency and intensity.
Socioeconomic Disparities and Their Consequences
UNICEF asserts that the combination of these threats and the prevailing socio-economic inequalities in Mexico creates a vicious cycle that restricts children’s access to essential services and living conditions necessary for their physical, mental, and educational well-being. Furthermore, the issues of migration and forced displacement, attributed to various factors, exacerbate this situation.
The report points out that children and adolescents are among the groups most vulnerable to the impacts of the climate crisis, highlighting an environmental injustice, as they are the least responsible for its occurrence. The study identifies children under five and those living in the southwestern region of Mexico as the most exposed to the impacts of climate change. During early childhood, essential developmental processes occur, making these young individuals particularly susceptible to extreme heat, malnutrition, various illnesses, and dehydration.
The southwestern region is characterised by the frequent occurrence of weather phenomena, high poverty levels, and a significant presence of indigenous communities who often experience exclusion. The interplay of these factors may hinder children’s ability to prevent, cope with, and recover from the effects of climate change.
Health and Education: Consequences in Numbers
In terms of health, the analysis reveals that increased heavy rainfall correlates with higher mortality rates and a greater incidence of childhood diseases. For instance, a 10% increase in maximum accumulated rainfall over five consecutive days is associated with a 0.9% rise in infant mortality. Similarly, deaths from diarrhoeal diseases increase by 1.9%, and mortality among children under five rises by 0.8%. Furthermore, a 10% increase in heatwave occurrences is linked to a 1% rise in infant mortality due to respiratory illnesses.
Current records suggest that heavy rainfall could increase by approximately 0.26 millimetres per year by 2050, with an additional 0.0219 hot days per year. In this hypothetical scenario, UNICEF estimates that compared to the period from 2010 to 2020, there could be a 0.36% rise in total infant mortality, a 0.8% increase in infant deaths due to diarrhoeal diseases, a 0.32% rise in deaths among children under five, and a 0.56% increase in childhood morbidity from respiratory diseases. These consequences also represent a substantial economic impact, with projections estimating that the additional costs related to mortality and morbidity could reach 411 million pesos in a low-emission scenario and up to 888 million pesos in a high-emission scenario.
A Call for Enhanced Public Policy
The UNICEF report acknowledges that Mexico has a legal and institutional framework in place to address climate change. The Constitution recognises the right to a healthy environment and mandates the protection of children, while the General Climate Change Law, enacted in 2012, lays the groundwork for mitigation and adaptation efforts.
However, to effectively mitigate the impacts of the climate crisis on children, it is crucial to strengthen infrastructure and essential services, expand social protection strategies, increase public investment in mitigation and adaptation measures, improve research programmes to identify emerging risks, and address the specific needs of children and adolescents based on their age, socio-economic conditions, and place of residence.
The report concludes that climate policies should not merely focus on reducing emissions or responding to disasters; they must also incorporate explicit objectives for protecting rights and reducing inequalities. “The protection of children and adolescents should be a central focus in climate adaptation and mitigation strategies in Mexico. Understanding how climate change affects children is not just a matter of protection; it is essential for enabling them to become key players in the solutions our country and the world require. The decisions we make today to protect these new generations will significantly determine humanity’s ability to build resilience, well-being, and prosperity in the coming decades,” the report emphasises.