Climate, environment and resilience

The current state

The triple planetary crisis—climate change, environmental pollution, and biodiversity loss—has resulted in incalculable losses and risks worldwide. But none more significant than to the well-being of children, most especially in the Philippines.

Globally, the country is the most at risk of extreme natural events (World Risk Report, 2024), with 74 per cent of the Philippine population vulnerable to climate-induced disasters and hazards. While these disasters may seem seasonal, their impact is wide-reaching and long-term, leading to massive economic losses, infrastructure damage, and scarcity of resources. It also threatens progress to education, health, safety, and poverty levels and access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene. Children are especially vulnerable.

9.7 million children in the Philippines were displaced by environmental hazards from 2016 to 2021—the highest in the world.
Children in the Philippines have the highest eco-anxiety level (fear of environmental incidents and disasters) in the world.
97 per cent have experienced 3 or more types of environmental shock, hazard, or stress; 77 per cent experienced 4 or more.
Only 48 per cent of the population has safely managed potable water, and 63 per cent have safely managed sanitation, which means they still practice open defecation. In the Bangsamoro Region, these figures are three times lower. The numbers also worsen after emergencies, which in the Philippines are prone to be exacerbated by extreme weather events.

_{All data sources can be found at}_{Situation of Children Philippines}_{, unless otherwise noted.}

Our goal, our commitment

This climate crisis is arguably the greatest challenge to any nation, threatening to undercut decades of hard-won socio-economic progress, particularly for children. This includes our goal of advocating for safe drinking water and safely managed sanitation that protects children’s health. And we can only expect the worst in the coming years if we don’t act now—heatwaves at 42°C, extreme rainfall, flashfloods, super typhoons, and rising sea levels. There is no time to waste.

UNICEF seizes this narrow window of opportunity to address and reverse the effects of the triple planetary crisis. We take a systems-strengthening approach that builds on the country’s climate mitigation and adaptation. We advocate for a healthy environment and sustainable world by bringing a child lens to the agenda. We ensure that every child in the Philippines lives in a healthy environment and sustainable world with easily available climate-resilient and shock responsive social services.

Our work, our initiatives

UNICEF is a unique position to partner with the local and national government and sectoral stakeholders to fortify the foundations the country has already built to address the climate crisis and its impact on children. We maximize the impact of ongoing programmes, particularly in public policy, governance, information system, human resources, disaster risk reduction, community and youth engagement, and financial system. Key strategies include strengthening water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure resilience, safeguarding livelihoods with social protection and regulations, empowering local governments and communities to take adaptation measures, and scaling up nature-based solutions.

Here are our key efforts:

Supporting data analysis and evidence generation on the impact of climate on children in the Philippines to influence and inform national and subnational policies, plans, budgets, and child-friendly policies and initiatives
Developing a strategic framework for children and youth participation in climate action
Integrating children/youth dimensions into climate policy dialogues
Supporting local governments to formulate climate-smart plans, access climate financing, establish governance mechanisms and strengthen anticipatory actions
Establishing climate-smart social services in child protection, education, health, nutrition, social protection, and water and sanitation