Cambodia Launches the First Children’s Climate Risk Index and Signs UNICEF’s Declaration on Children, Youth and Climate Action

PHNOM PENH – 14 January 2025 – Today, the Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with UNICEF Cambodia, proudly launched the first ever Children’s Climate Risk Index (CCRI) for Cambodia. The event also marked the signing of UNICEF’s Declaration on Children, Youth and Climate action, underscoring a collective commitment to child-centered climate policies. 

"The Children’s Climate Risk Index for Cambodia is crucial in providing additional roadmaps for the government, as well as the Ministry of Environment and other relevant ministries and institutions, to prioritize actions that consider the well-being and protection of the most vulnerable children. This ensures that disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation strategies are integrated and focused on the needs of children and youth," said H.E. Dr. Eang Sophalleth, Minister of Environment. "This information also serves as input for designing interventions and educational programs on climate risks, aimed at helping children and their families better understand the threats they face and prepare for climate change and disasters."

The CCRI provides critical insights into the unique vulnerabilities faced by children in the context of climate change. It is a tool that brings together data, analysis, and insights to highlight the unique and disproportionate vulnerabilities children are facing due to climate change and environmental degradation. It highlights the risks to children’s health, education, and protection caused by climate and environmental hazards such as riverine floods, droughts, heat, high wind speed and vector-borne diseases. The index also offers actionable recommendations to strengthen resilience and ensure children are at the heart of climate adaptation and mitigation strategies.

"The climate crisis is a child rights crisis. Today, we are launching more than just a report. The Children’s Climate Risk Index for Cambodia serves as a powerful tool for collective action, empowering leaders, communities, and especially youth and children, to take concrete steps in mitigating and addressing the impacts of climate change," said Dr. Will Parks, UNICEF Representative to Cambodia. 

According to the global Children’s Climate Risk Index, Cambodia ranks among the top third of countries where children are at high risk from climate and environmental hazards. By leveraging localized data and analysis at the highest sub-national resolution - commune level - the report provides a comprehensive picture of climate risks tailored to Cambodia’s unique context. 

Key findings include:

• Nearly two million children, over one third of the country’s youth, live in areas with a high or very high climate risk, primarily in rural areas.
• About one third of children face high exposure to drought conditions.
• Over half of children in Cambodia are highly exposed to heat, vector-borne diseases, and high wind speeds.
• Nearly half of the children in the country are vulnerable to riverine floods.
• Half of children are highly exposed to levels of air pollution that exceed World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.

The CCRI reveals that the most vulnerable children live in communes in the north-eastern region, around the Tonle Sap Lake and in the plain. These children face greater climate risks due to insufficient basic social services, particularly in health and nutrition, followed by inadequate livelihoods and social protection, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), child protection, and education. 

"The signing of the Declaration on Children, Youth, and Climate Action marks a significant step forward in empowering young people and children to actively engage in efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Together, we can act decisively to protect them and ensure a safer, healthier future for generations to come," said Dr. Will Parks, UNICEF Representative to Cambodia. 

By signing he UNICEF’s Declaration on Children, Youth and Climate Action, Cambodia has positioned herself as a leader in ASEAN for child-centered-climate policies. This commitment includes empowering youth to actively lead sustainable initiatives in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement on climate change. By joining the global effort, Cambodia aims to integrate young people’s and children’s voices into climate decision-making processes, promote equitable solutions, and strengthen nationwide resilience to environmental challenges.