Climate change causes significant psychological stress and trauma in children. A recent report by the advocacy organisation Section27 shows that children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of extreme weather conditions associated with climate change such as floods, heat waves and cold fronts as well as droughts. 

The report highlights children’s biological susceptibility to extreme weather events. This population group has “nutritional and hydration requirements that assist their development and growth. They also have narrower pathways for respiration which can easily be constricted by pollutants. Children’s thermoregulatory function is also less developed than in adults which makes them vulnerable to temperature increases and decreases.”

However, the effects of climate change on children’s well-being go beyond their biological health. Climate change causes disruptions to everyday life and upend childhoods. Extreme events such as flooding for example can displace families and, at times, whole communities. These events cause destruction of basic infrastructure including homes, roads, health facilities and schools. This, in turn, can leave children destitute with little to no access to healthcare and education. 

“The stress experienced in childhood can be very damaging to their development,” the report states. ”Part of the anxiety experienced by children is due to their lack of agency for themselves and their reliance on adults and government who they see as failing in combating climate change.”

Speaking at the launch of the report, Celeste Madondo from the Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute says this report highlights that climate change is beyond education or health issues. 

“Climate change is great and it also encompasses gender, social, economic, security, and legal.  Most importantly it highlights climate change as a human rights issue,” 

Climate and health 

Madondo argues that climate change has a profound impact on global health. According to the report, climate change affects healthcare systems in two ways. It contributes to increased deaths and illness; it also significantly impacts the deterioration of health facilities and limits people’s access to health services. 

“We know that it is well documented that climate change and extreme weather events are exacerbating health issues worldwide. They are putting strain on health systems which are already stretched to the limits especially in our region [Africa]. The most vulnerable population including children from infancy, women, youth and low-income groups will be the most affected by climate related consequences,” says Madondo. 

She says the effects of climate change are most severe in regions such as Africa where resources are limited, and equipment and infrastructure in both health and education are inadequate. “This further complicates our ability to address, prepare and to adapt to the environmental changes.” 

The report states that, “climate change has both direct and indirect impacts on health. Direct impacts include exposure to heat, which can lead to preterm birth, low birth weight, and hypertension in pregnant women, and poses a risk to the foetus.”

Vulnerable people, especially those with underlying conditions, are more susceptible to the effects of climate change. 

“In the South African context, large numbers of people migrate from coastal areas to urban areas, particularly informal settlements. This increases the threat of heat exposure, particularly for people residing in congested buildings. Studies conducted in Tshwane have found that heat can impact the productivity of health workers, diminishing their quality of care and causing poor staff attitude.” 

Climate and basic education 

Tatiana Kazim, a  senior researcher at the Equal Education Law Centre, says climate justice is a human rights issue and the state has clear duties to ensure everyone, particularly children, are protected from climate disasters. But, she argues that these duties are not being fulfilled and basic education is greatly impacted. 

“Severe and frequent extreme weather have had increasing pressure on the South African already struggling school system. In worst cases education grinds to a halt, especially at schools in marginalised communities. As we’ve seen, South Africa’s coastal provinces have experienced an increase in frequency and severity of flooding. The floods in KZN in 2022 damaged 630 schools and 124 schools needed a budget of R4 million,” she says. 

She adds that even when education can continue in principle in the face of extreme weather events, these kinds of climate conditions have a severe impact on the quality of education. 

“Extreme heat is the problem we face in South Africa especially for learners in mobile classrooms or other structures prone to overheating. So this seriously undermines the quality of education creating an intolerable learning environment. It makes it impossible for learners to concentrate,” she says.

She says these challenges set back learner’s rights to basic education, and increase the already existing inequalities in the schooling system.

“They jeopardise larger efforts to mitigate and adapt the effects of climate change. Shockingly, education has been left off the climate agenda,” she says.

Recommendations

Section27’s Gillian Pillay says some of the recommendations from the report to address these issues include the construction of schools that are more resilient to climate change, using appropriate materials for infrastructure. 

“Remote learning systems should be implemented to ensure continued education in the event of extreme weather, when schools may be inaccessible due to damage to infrastructure. Allocation of adequate funding to prepare for and respond to such events is paramount,” she says.

She adds that the report proposes retrofitting healthcare facilities, such as painting roofs white to reduce heat absorption. 

“Personalised early-warning systems for disasters, such as mobile applications that alert pregnant women to high temperatures and advise them on protective measures, are also recommended,” she says. – Health-e News