Climate action and disaster risk reduction
The right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment for every child and young person
Context
In Maldives, the triple planetary crisis is an existential crisis.
As one of the world’s lowest and flattest countries, the dangers associated with climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution can lead to loss of learning, home, poor health and future.
Around the world, children and young people are speaking up to demand action. The children and young people of Maldives are front and centre in these efforts.
They are speaking up for their right to a clean, healthy and sustainable world. They are demanding investment in actions that will mitigate damage and reduce the risks of a changing climate.
Challenges
Maldives faces many climate and environmental challenges: beach erosion, rising sea levels, increasing temperatures, pollution in the air and sea.
For children, these challenges present risks to lives and futures. Floods prevent access to learning; erosion threatens homes; pollution destroys environments; extreme heat jeopardizes health; and biodiversity loss threatens food sources.
In a small island nation, climate and environmental hazards also threaten a treasured way of life – a heritage passed down by generations.
Plans and action need to be redoubled to reduce the risks that children and young people experience from climate and environmental hazards.
UNICEF in action
Children and young people have done the least to create this triple layer of crises. But they will suffer the most.
So, it makes sense that children and young people are leading the charge for change. UNICEF Maldives engages with them to provide platforms for them to speak and be heard.
Climate guardians
The Climate Guardians are the central force of UNICEF Maldives’ engagement with young people aged 15 – 24.
UNICEF Maldives supports them with the knowledge, skills and tools to advocate and activate on the issues that impact their lives and communities. Activities include tree-planting, beach clean-ups and learning more on climate diplomacy.
Global engagement
UNICEF Maldives is committed to providing a platform for children and young people to take centre stage at the local, national and international gatherings of decision-makers. We do this by exposing young people to the world of climate diplomacy, providing them with a platform to raise their concerns on the climate crisis and facilitating opportunities for them to participate in policy consultations.
Disaster risk reduction
UNICEF Maldives’ also knows the importance of preparing for disaster – with the goal of reducing potential impact on children and young people’s lives, learning and futures. To do this, we are partnering with the National Disaster Management Authority to bolster community-based response mechanisms.
