Children and youth

In many countries across the Northern Hemisphere, school reopens in early autumn — a time that is supposed to offer a welcome break from the intense summer heat.

Southern California’s Salton Sea was once a resort playground, with sunny beaches, celebrities and people waterskiing on the vast inland lake in the 1950s and ’60s. Today, those resorts are long gone, replaced by a drying and increasingly toxic landscape.

Exposure to extreme heat conditions is resulting in more babies being born with low birth weight, according to a new study involving Adelaide University researchers.

The article argues that climate education must include emotional resilience, as young people feel worry, powerlessness and disengagement. Supporting wellbeing, agency and meaningful action can better prepare them for a climate‑changed future.

Niue marked World Meteorological Day by launching Vagahau Niue COPE disaster-preparedness booklets to empower children and strengthen community resilience.

This special report focuses on the important role that children and youth can play in tackling urban heat and the urban heat island effect. Both top-down and bottom-up approaches are highlighted to showcase comprehensive strategies in action.

This publication promotes comprehensive community preparedness by helping readers adopt practical safety measures.