Climate Change and Child Health: Intricate Compounding of Climatic and Non-Climatic Risks

Atiq Ahmed, Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University
Marc Voelker, IPSR, Mahidol University
Chalermpol Chamchan, Institute for Population and Social Research (IPSR), Mahidol University
Sarunya Sujaritpong, Institute for Population and Social Research (IPSR), Mahidol University

Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time, with far-reaching implications for the environment and societies globally. Climate extreme events are anticipated to be the most pronounced risks over the coming decades. Compound risks are created through the composition of ‘climatic’ and ‘non-climatic’ factors together and impacting individuals, society, and populations uniquely and differentially. Children, in particular, are significantly impacted and an estimate suggests that about one billion children are at an extremely high risk. Child health is impacted by extreme weather events/disasters, heat-related stresses, air pollution, climate-sensitive diseases, and so many climate-induced factors. Impacts are not just limited to physical health but also their mental health, social well-being, and educational opportunities. Based on research, we would like to show evidence on climate and non-climatic drivers of child health outcomes and explore the interrelationships between climate extremes and child health and their socio-demographic compounding. Global datasets and country-level DHS data are used particularly looking at how the child health outcomes (i.e., stunting, wasting, underweight) are associated with climate extreme factors (e.g., extreme temperature, extreme rainfall, climate-induced disasters) and what the key factors moderating and/or mediating these effects may interest the practitioners uniquely.

Keywords: Population, Environment, and Climate Change, Children, Adolescents, and Youth, Population, Shocks and Pandemics, Population Policies

See extended abstract.