Future under threat

Children give hope for a better future; they are the light we desperately need in a dark tunnel. And yet we have failed them: our energies are more focused on the present, and we are least considered about what may happen in the future if we do not change course. Take the latest report by Unicef, released a day before World Children’s Day, which is observed annually on November 20, “to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children’s welfare.” In its report, the UN agency says that demographic shifts, worsening climate change and rapid technological transformation risk create a bleak future for children in 2050. These factors are in addition to the conflicts that may erupt anywhere in the world. The most alarming threat that children in 2050 will face is climate change. Unicef says “if current greenhouse gas emission trends continue, by 2050 children could face eight times more heatwaves than in 2000, three times more extreme flooding, and 1.7 times more wildfires.”

Climate challenges hit children from the poorest households hardest. If their residential areas are flooded, they risk missing school for quite a long period. Second, if climate-induced floods destroy their houses or deprive their parents of their livelihoods, they have to deliberately drop out of school and help their parents earn some income. Pakistan’s 2022 floods, for example, deprived at least 3.5 million children of access to education, according to a survey conducted by the WHO. Even after months, most of these children could not go back to school. We all know how bleak the future could be, and yet there is no sense of urgency. Developing countries like Pakistan casually mention that their emissions make up a small percentage of the total number, but they also fail to put an end to activities that are harmful to the environment.

The Unicef report also points out the demographic issue that children will face in the future. While there will be around 2.3 billion children (similar to their current number), they will represent a much smaller size of the total population. This, per Unicef, raises concerns about their “visibility and rights in societies focused on ageing populations”. This is apparent even today. While we have entertainment options for teens and young adults, there are hardly any spaces where children can grow and develop skills. The last threat that Unicef points out is the deepening digital divide. Approximately 95 per cent of individuals in developed countries have internet access, while only 26 per cent of people in the least developed nations enjoy the same, primarily due to limited access to electricity, connectivity, or devices. Unicef warns failing to address these barriers for children in these regions, particularly those in the poorest households, risks pushing an already disadvantaged generation even further behind. It is high time our leaders took steps to protect the rights of our children.