For the past 70 years, UNICEF‘s goals have been to work for children’s rights, survival, development, and protection.  On February 13, 2016, Jeffery O’Malley, UNICEF’s Director of the Division of Data, Research, and Policy, described to CCL volunteers the new UNICEF report “Unless we act now” on the impact of climate change on children.

Rising temperatures and changes in rainfall patterns exacerbate vector-borne diseases like dengue, Zika virus, and malaria. Resource scarcity causes vulnerable families to migrate.   Droughts and flooding, water scarcity, and contaminated water sources; all of these have more severe effects on children.

O’Malley says climate action must begin now, and must be equitable if UNICEF is going to reach its goals.