The report highlights the ‘intergenerational injustice’ of the climate crisis.
Today’s children are set to suffer more climate disasters in their lifetime as compared to their grandparents, according to a new research.
The study is the first-of-its-kind to assess the impacts of climate extremes by different age groups and focuses on the ‘intergenerational injustice’ of the climate crisis.
It analyzed multiple climate and demographic models to compare the risks faced by previous generations to the number of extreme events today’s children will witness in their lifetimes.
Study findings
Published in the journal Science, the findings show that under the current climate policy, newborns across the globe will on average face seven times more intense heatwaves during their lives than their grandparents.
In addition, they will on average see twice as many wildfires, witness, 3.4 times as many river floods, almost three times as many crop failures, and 2.3 times as many droughts as people born 60 years ago.
According to Wim Thiery, professor at Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Belgium and study lead author, at and above 1.5°C of warming, lifetime exposure to heatwaves, crop failures, droughts, and river floods for people born after 1980 is unmatched by pre-industrial climate conditions.
Moreover, the study highlights that young generations in low-income countries will face even more severe implications of climate change. The study predicts an almost sixfold increase in lifetime extreme event exposure, and even 50 times more heatwaves for children in the sub-Saharan African countries.
‘Our future is insecure’
The study come just before the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow in November where more than 200 nations and over 30,000 people, are expected to converge and rally for climate justice.
“Young people are being hit by climate crisis but are not in position to make decisions,” Thiery said.
“While the people who can make the change happen will not face the consequences.”
Emanuel Smari Nielsen, a 14-year-old climate activist from Norway said: “The future for me and everyone who comes after is so insecure.
“When politicians and those with power do not do anything, it makes me feel tired. It almost makes me angry.”
Calls for climate action
While the situation is grim, researchers note that meeting the Paris Agreement target of 1.5°C above pre-industrial temperatures, instead of the current climate trajectory that places the planet on a course for more than 3°C of warming would almost halve the heatwaves today’s children will face, while keeping under 2C would reduce the number by a quarter.
Prof Joeri Rogelj is a climate change expert at Imperial College London and co-author of the study. He said: “Limiting global warming to 1.5°C instead of following current policy pledges substantially reduces the intergenerational burden for extreme heatwaves, wildfires, crop failures, droughts, tropical cyclones, and river floods.”
Thiery added: “Our results underline the sheer importance of the Paris Agreement to protect young generations around the world.
“If we manage to drastically reduce our emissions in the coming years, we can still avoid the worst consequences for children worldwide. At the same time, a sobering message for the youth in low-income countries emerges, where incredibly challenging extreme events are robustly projected, even under the most stringent of climate action futures.”
Share this story: Today’s kids will face more climate disasters, study says.
Lifestyle
Vegan culture, food, beauty & more
81% of military personnel want plant-based meals, new survey reveals
- Mohsina Dodhiya
- 27th June 2022
“As the US military continues to seek ways to best support the overall health and diverse needs of its loyal service members, we’re calling on lawmakers to require all branches of the military to provide plant-based MRE options.” The majority of US military members want vegan Meals, Ready to Eat (MRE), according to a new …
Continue reading “81% of military personnel want plant-based meals, new survey reveals”
One more vegan ad banned this week – this time for showing animals in distress
- Mohsina Dodhiya
- 9th June 2022
The watchdog banned ads by Vegan Friendly UK and Tesco amid claims of gratuitous violence and misleading information. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned one more vegan TV ad this week over claims that it shows “graphic imagery and gratuitous violence” towards animals. This censure comes on the heels of the UK watchdog banning …
Continue reading “One more vegan ad banned this week – this time for showing animals in distress”
VEGAN MEMES
NEED A LAUGH?
QUIZZES
All the quizzes you love to binge!
QUIZ: If you score 11/12 on this quiz, you’re a verified vegan food expert
- Marlon Farrugia
- 10th January 2020
How much vegan knowledge do you have stored away? Do you have to Google your way through a shopping trip, or do you have all the bad E-numbers memorised? Find out now with this quiz. Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a dedicated vegan for many years, and …
Continue reading “QUIZ: If you score 11/12 on this quiz, you’re a verified vegan food expert”
QUIZ: What is your perfect Vegan Halloween Costume?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 13th October 2019
Spook Season approaches. There will be ghosts, goblins, ghouls, and glucose. You need a costume, and you want to it to show off your personality, which means VEGAN. But what to choose? Take our quiz to find out your perfect outfit. Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a …
Continue reading “QUIZ: What is your perfect Vegan Halloween Costume?”
QUIZ: What kind of vegetable are you?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 26th September 2019
“If you were a vegetable, what kind would you be?” A question that has tormented humanity throughout the ages – until now. Read: QUIZ: If you score 19/20 on THIS quiz, you’re a Vegan God Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a dedicated vegan for many years, and …