Climate Action for Children in Indonesia
The climate crisis is a threat to child rights
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Climate Change and Children in Indonesia: A Growing Crisis
The climate crisis is a child rights crisis. In Indonesia, children face climate risk – ranked 46th globally in the Children’s Climate Risk Index. Climate change threatens their health, education, safety, and future, as seen in the increasing number of extreme weather events, floods and droughts, in addition to worsening air, water, and soil pollution. Urgent action is needed to protect children from the escalating impacts of environmental degradation and engage them in taking meaningful action.
Why are children in Indonesia at risk of the Climate Crisis?
Challenge
Increased flooding causes more vector-borne diseases, damages water sources and sanitation facilities, and contaminates water, raising the risk of water-borne diseases. Climate change can cause food insecurity, negatively affecting children’s nutrition and growth.
Climate-related disasters like cyclones, fires, and floods destroy and damage schools. Climate disasters affected over 50,000 of Indonesia’s schools from 2009 to 2018.
Disasters can endanger children’s lives, cause injury and trauma, or cause displacement, increasing the risk of exploitation and abuse.
How UNICEF is responding
UNICEF is working with the Government of Indonesia and partners to protect children from the effects of climate change and environmental degradation and to put the rights of every child at the center of climate action.
We are on the ground with partners deploying innovative climate adaptation solutions. We are empowering and amplifying the voices of children and young people in climate conversations.
UNICEF is taking action with the goverment and partners
Program
UNICEF strengthens data and analysis on how climate change and environmental destruction affect children. This includes policy recommendations to improve the national social protection data system and ensure it is kept up-to-date, even during disasters.
Examples:
- UNICEF and the Ministry of Environment launched the first Climate Landscape Analysis for Children in Indonesia, presenting evidence on the impact of climate change on child rights in six social sectors: health, nutrition, education, water and sanitation, child protection, and social protection, with policy recommendations.
- UNICEF and the Ministry of National Development Planning released a report titled Climate Change and Nutrition in Indonesia, providing a review of the evidence for strengthening policies and programmes.
UNICEF supports the Government of Indonesia to make essential social services for children more resilient to the impact of climate change, including those for health, nutrition, education, water and sanitation, child protection, and social protection.
Examples:
- Building resilience of health centres through climate-resilient water and sanitation facilities to ensure life-saving services are available for children and families, including during emergencies.
- Supported assessment of the health sector’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions to guide the use of renewable energy and environmentally friendly waste management in public health centres.
- Contributed to the integration of climate change topics into early childhood education teacher training modules. Plans are underway to expand support to the Ministry of Education to further develop and promote teaching and learning materials.
Raises awareness about climate-related issues and supports efforts by children and young people to take climate action through campaigns and youth engagement platforms.
Examples:
- Collecting young people’s opinions through U-Report, a digital engagement platform, to inform programme design and advocacy.
- Engaging young people as content creators and advocates.
- Supporting young people’s climate advocacy and action, including through facilitating their participation in the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP) and providing seed funding for climate change adaptation/mitigation and environmental projects.
Our impact
“I hope the things caused by climate change can be changed through the use of renewable energy as one of the solutions to address the climate crisis,”
Amalia Narya, Youth Advocate.
Discover how our work is improving the lives of Indonesian children through our annual reports.
Understand what you can do
Actions
Climate change isn’t just about the weather; it’s about people, justice, and survival. Learn how rising temperatures, extreme weather, and pollution affect children in Indonesia and around the world. Get facts, stories, and insights to deepen your understanding of what’s at stake.
Ready to take the next step? If you want to raise awareness and inspire others, we’ve got tips to help you start planning your own climate campaign. Whether it’s an online message, a school initiative, or a local action, our resources can help you shape your ideas and take the first move with confidence.
Your voice matters. Use our platform to share your ideas, express your concerns, and speak up for climate justice. Whether it’s writing a message, submitting a creative work, or taking part in a campaign, this is your space to be heard and to inspire others to take action too.