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

Abstract

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.

European Public Health News

“…Overall, young people are not only participating in high-level international events, but they are also working at the community level, facilitating action and building awareness. 6 …”

“…2 , 7 , 8 Meaningful engagement of young people about health and well-being issues that are important to them contributes to improvements in health policies, programmes and services, and in turn, impacts on health and social outcomes. 6 Young people are both beneficiaries of healthcare services and can be leaders of health and well-being efforts. The inclusion of young people in health-related matters which—directly or indirectly—affect their lives, leads to better understanding, and improved acceptance, awareness and compliance with numerous healthcare recommendations.…”

“…young people living with a disability or chronic disease; young people who live in remote areas or caught up in social disruption; those being marginalized, stigmatized or criminalized because of their sexual orientation, gender identity or ethnicity; those experiencing homelessness, violence, abuse or exploitation; migrants and refugees, and those without access to health services or social protection. 2 , 6 , 8 , 9…”

An authentic learner-centered planetary health assignment: A five-year evaluation of student choices to address Sustainable Development Goal 13 (Climate Action)

“…Such citizenship requires, amongst other competencies, systems and design thinking, as well as collective action and leadership. Health professions education thus has a responsibility to graduate individuals who are prepared to take action in a changing world ( 12 ) in which existing inequities will be exacerbated in a warming climate ( 13 ). They also should be able to educate patients, for example, about the co-benefits (to self, community, and the planet) of exercise (e.g., walking or cycling to work) and sustainable diets (e.g., reducing red meat intake; increasing dietary fruit and vegetables) ( 14 ).…”

Hope can bring solutions to climate despair

“…Despite the odds, despite being the group most affected by the impending climate disaster, they are increasingly turning to activism and pioneering a human rights based approach to climate change (doi:10.1136/bmj.o2401). 11 They are not alone. The impact of climate change on health and wellbeing places a moral duty on clinicians to lead society with advocacy and solutions.…”