In a joint statement, United Nations agencies have sounded the alarm on the severe health risks faced by pregnant women, babies, and children as a result of climate catastrophes, demanding immediate global attention.
Rt Hon Helen Clark, PMNCH Board Chair and former Prime Minister of New Zealand, emphasized the urgency, stating, “Climate change is a major intergenerational injustice of our times. Safeguarding the health and rights of women, children, and adolescents is non-negotiable in the face of the climate crisis.”
Released ahead of the global Conference of the Parties negotiations on climate change in Dubai, a Call for Action issued by UN agencies underscored the negligence of the impact of climate events on maternal and child health. The document criticized the insufficient attention given to the needs of women, newborns, and children in climate change discourse.
The Call to Action outlines seven urgent measures to address these escalating risks. These include sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, action on climate finance, and the specific inclusion of the needs of pregnant women, babies, and children in climate and disaster-related policies.
Diene Keita, Deputy Executive Director for Programmes at UNFPA, stressed the importance of gender-inclusive climate solutions, stating, “To find climate solutions that acknowledge the distinct health needs and vulnerabilities of women and girls, we must start by asking the right questions. Global climate solutions must support – not sacrifice – gender equality.”
Bruce Aylward, Assistant Director General for Universal Health Coverage, Life Course at the World Health Organization, highlighted the dire consequences faced by children and pregnant women due to climate change. He urged immediate action, stating, “Children’s futures need to be consciously protected, which means taking climate action now for the sake of their health and survival, while ensuring their unique needs are recognized in the climate response.”