Programme

Climate, Environment, and Disaster Risk Reduction

for every child, a livable planet

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The Climate Crisis is a Child Rights Crisis

Children and young people are least responsible for climate change yet face the brunt of the crisis. Climate change, disasters, and environmental degradation may further hinder children’s rights—their health, safety, education and future development—from more intense floods and heatwaves to poor air quality and food insecurity with significantly higher risk of harm than adults. This effect worsens for children facing existing vulnerabilities, with climate shocks intensifying risks to their safety. Children face a deadly combination of exposure to multiple shocks with high vulnerability resulting from the lack of available and quality essential social services, such as healthcare, education, and water and sanitation.

Based on the ‘Impact of Climate Change on Children: A Malaysian Perspective’ Report produced by UNICEF, UKM, and UMS (2021), not all aspects of children’s rights have been adequately considered in Malaysia’s governance framework on climate change and environment—children are not explicitly recognised as rights-holders with the right to a healthy environment. While all children and young people are impacted by climate change, those living in marginalised communities are more vulnerable to climate and environmental risks.

Key facts:

One billion children are at ‘extremely high risk’ of the impacts of climate change
Almost every child worldwide is exposed to at least one environmental hazard (heatwaves, cyclones, air pollution, flooding and water scarcity).
84.5% of children globally experience 3 or more types of climate shocks, hazards or stresses.

In 2025, Malaysia is home to 9.03 million children, of which:

8.11 million children are exposed to air pollution
1.17 million children are highly exposed to riverine flooding
1.16 million children are highly exposed to heatwaves
180,00 children are exposed to water scarcity

Health	In Malaysia, children under five already face significant health challenges: 21% are stunted, 11% are wasted, and nearly half suffer from anaemia.
Education	Children can miss weeks or even months of education, and some are forced to drop out altogether due to displacement or family hardship.
Protection	During disasters, children are at higher risk of violence, neglect, exploitation, or separation from families. Girls face greater risks of gender-based violence, and children with disabilities are often excluded from emergency responses.
Mental Health	Repeated disasters cause trauma and long-term psychological distress. Many children express fear and uncertainty about their future.
Inequality	Children from rural, indigenous, disabilities, and low-income family groups face the greatest risks, often living in unsafe areas with limited access to clean water, healthcare, or safe schools.

Climate change and disaster threaten to disrupt social services, increasing risks to children and communities.

Climate Resilient Social Services Infographic

Children and young people in Malaysia are actively taking action to protect their communities from climate change. Together with UNICEF, children and young people join hands to call on policymakers and governments to lead the change towards a safer, cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable environment and future.

What We Do

UNICEF is committed to achieving societal transformation necessary for every child to grow up safe, healthy, and resilient in a changing climate. UNICEF Malaysia’s Climate, Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction Programme aims to support the government, young people, and private sector partners to develop and accelerate the implementation of child- and youth-sensitive climate, environmental, and disaster risk recovery plans, policies and legislations in Malaysia.

UNICEF Malaysia’s Climate, Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction Programme is structured around three key pillars: