The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has announced that an estimated 100 million vulnerable children in Nigeria are facing the effects of climate change.
UNICEF Kano Field Director Farah Mahmoud said this at the 2023 World Children’s Day celebrations in Kano on Monday.
The theme for this day was “The impact of climate change on children’s lives.”
He said the UN agency has developed a 2023-2027 action plan to address children’s vulnerability to climate change and integrate climate change into all interventions across all sectors.
Mahmoud said effective implementation of the project will increase resilience to climate change.
He said UNICEF estimates that 1 billion children around the world are at “extremely high” risk from the effects of the climate crisis.
“Nigeria is the second most vulnerable country in the world in terms of children’s exposure to climate change, with approximately 100 million children facing the harsh reality of rising temperatures.
“This action plan designs a conscious plan of action and steps organized to address the specific challenges of climate change in Nigeria. To ensure resilience to climate change, we We ensure that climate change is integrated into every project we undertake as UNICEF.
“Nigerian children also face floods, droughts and severe storms,” he said.
He said the celebration focused on children’s rights as the climate crisis intensifies, adding: “It is an important platform for children to voice their concerns and experiences.”
Mahmoud said the fund will examine the scale and scope of the problem and develop an action plan to systematically halt climate change.
“UNICEF will continue to work with governments and stakeholders to address the issue.”
World Children’s Day was established in 1954 as World Children’s Day and is celebrated every year on 20 November with the aim of promoting international unity, raising awareness and improving child welfare. It is determined.
Earlier, the Secretary of Environment, Alhaji Nasiru Garo, said the state government was sensitizing children to the dangers of climate change and encouraging them to donate their quota to reduce its impacts.
“They are also sensitive to discouraging their peers against open defecation and ensuring the construction of public toilets in strategic locations to achieve open defecation free (ODF) status,” he said.
Mr Gallo said the state government was prioritizing the environment, especially biodiversity conservation and restoration of degraded lands.
He said the government would combat desert encroachment, pollution control and environmental health to control floods and soil erosion.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to a green and sustainable environment, Mr. Gallo added that the government will not ease its efforts to achieve ODF status.
Source: guardian.ng