18 October 2024

Athens, 18 October 2024 – A new report, “Climate Landscape Analysis for Children in Greece: The effects of climate change on child well-being and the institutional framework in Greece”, that reveals the devastating impact of climate change on the well-being of children and young people in the country was released today by UNICEF Greece Country Office in collaboration with the Hellenic Foundation for European & Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP). During the launch event, young people, professionals from the research and education sector commented on the findings and shared concrete actions for further building the resilience to climate crisis and environmental degradation. The report emphasizes that the climate crisis is a child rights crisis, with children being disproportionately affected by escalating environmental disasters.

The report highlights that children, particularly those from vulnerable groups—including girls, children with disabilities, displaced children, and those living in poverty—carry the greatest burden from the impacts of climate change. As extreme weather events become more frequent and severe, children in Greece face threats to their education, mental health, and general well-being.

Key findings from the report include:

• 2023 was the warmest year of the last 30 years, and the third driest year since 1991
• 25 Municipalities declared State of Emergency on the grounds of drought and water stress in the period May-September 2024
• 307,763 children are estimated to be at high risk of being affected by climate change in Greece
• 80% of teachers that participated in the focus group discussion stated that the schools they work (or have previously worked) at are inadequately equipped to handle extreme weather events
• Almost 70% of students that participated in the U-Report poll reported that they were not able to attend their classes due to adverse weather during the last year
• Existing national policy & regulatory framework on climate change adaptation lacks measures and provisions for and by children, as well as other social standards
• Peloponnese, Thessaly and Western Greece are the three Regions of Greece with a higher disaster risk
• Increased anxiety, followed by limited greenery and forests were the two most prevalent effects of climate change as reported by young people participating in the U-Report poll

The report also highlights the importance of national climate policies and regulatory frameworks, addressing the unique vulnerabilities and needs of children.

“Disasters threaten all children’s inherent rights guaranteed in the Convention on the Rights of the Child to life, survival, protection, development, participation and free expression. Climate change is not only changing our planet, it is also changing our children. Their voices are incredibly important to drive progress to protect their rights, but also to ensure that their voices are heard and acted upon. That is why we have called you today to listen to the young people and what they have to say,” stated Aspasia Plakantonaki, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Greece.

The analysis also includes a mapping of children’s vulnerabilities across Greece’s 13 regions and provides critical insights into how climate change impacts key aspects of children’s lives, particularly their access to education, mental health services, and overall well-being.

“The role of think-tanks, as ELIAMEP, is to provide the necessary tools and justification to decision-makers. This particular report constitutes ground work and has reached substantial conclusions which will be given to UNICEF, a critical ​​decision-making body”, said Maria Gavouneli, Director General, ELIAMEP.

The key outcomes of the report have been shaped into a set of recommendations for relevant authorities and stakeholders, urging them to directly address the critical challenges faced by children in the aftermath of environmental disasters by integrating child-specific measures in Greece’s climate adaptation policies to ensure that children’s rights to protection, education, and development are safeguarded.

Access the findings of the report here.

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The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child around the world. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, and all children, everywhere.

UNICEF is financed exclusively by voluntary contributions from individuals, the private sector, foundations and UN member states, including the EU. Donor support is crucial as we create a global alliance for reaching every child without any exception.

For more information about UNICEF and its work for children in Greece, visit the UNICEF Greece website here.

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Source : Unicef