Exploring the Impact of Climate Change on Children in South Africa

The technical document highlights the likely impact of climate change on children’s health, education, nutrition, safety and access to adequate housing and sanitation in South Africa – both directly and indirectly. In the case of South Africa, the impacts of climate change on children need to be considered in relation to wider development pressures affecting the country. Challenges such as international economic shocks and stresses, high levels of poverty and inequality, population changes, effects of HIV and AIDS, management of scarce natural resources and rapid urbanisation interact with climate change. South Africa has already taken steps to understand, recognise and address the challenges that climate change poses, yet the ability to recognise and address the needs of the country’s children is not well established.