Guyana climate landscape analysis for children
An assessment of the impact of climate, energy and environment on children in Guyana 2018
Highlights
The Report presents the climate, environment and energy situation in Guyana, Government responses to/priorities on CEE, the impact of CEE-related issues on children, child-inclusive CEE policies, strategies and programming, CEE funding landscape in Guyana, linkages of the UNICEF Country Programme to CEE and recommendations.
A number of policies, strategies, and action plans to guide national responses to issues related to climate, energy and environment including the Draft Climate Resilient Strategy and Action Plan (CRSAP, 2015), Guyana’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs, 2015) and National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP, 2012 -2020).
In Guyana, children suffer from the negative impact of climate change, especially flooding in areas that prevent them from going to school. Stagnant pools of water cause mosquitoes to breed larvae which results in malaria and filaria- both of which are prevalent in the interior communities.
This has an impact on children not attending school. On the other hand, during drought conditions, especially in the interior regions, the water level is extremely low; as a result schools remain closed. Even when children are allowed to attend school the heat is so intense that they become very restless and lack concentration. Heat waves will be of significant risk for children, particularly those living in urban settings where heat island effects may become more frequent due to increasing temperatures. It is noteworthy that infants are especially at risk because they cannot yet regulate their body temperature.
