'Damaging' trend that's ruining summers for Aussie children
Learning, play and sleep are all being impacted by an increasing number of heatwaves.
Summer should be fun, and it was for most Boomers, Millennials, and Generation X. But for kids growing up in Australia today this once carefree time is being threatened. A worsening trend of extreme heatwaves risks their health and ability to learn.
A new report by UNICEF, the global United Nations agency that provides humanitarian and developmental aid for children around the world, has revealed some disturbing new analysis about heatwaves. And before you get on your high-horse about how hot things were when you were younger, and how kids have it easy because of air conditioning, there are three important things to consider.
Heatwaves kill more Aussies than any other natural hazard, other than disease
Children are negatively impacted by the heat more than adults
It’s poor children who will suffer most
The report found Aussie kids living in the 2020s are likely to experience an average of six heatwaves over that decade, compared to just four in the 1960s. You can compare the changes across the world in a tool it has developed.
"The data doesn't lie. The planet is getting hotter and the increased frequency and intensity of heatwaves and extremely hot days will be very damaging for children's health and wellbeing," UNICEF Australia spokesperson on climate Nishadh Rego told Yahoo News.
UNICEF’s A Threat to Progress report also found extreme heatwaves are also continuing for longer, with kids experiencing around three extra extreme hot days a year.
“Heat waves are dangerous to everyone in the community. But they're particularly dangerous for children, because they’re not just little adults,” Rego added.
“Extreme heat affects children more severely than it does adults — their bodies heat up quicker. They sweat less, reducing their ability to cool down. And as a result, children are at much higher risk of developing heat related illnesses such as dehydration and heatstroke.”
Why wealth will help weather the impact of heatwaves
In today’s Australia, it’s those pulling in high wages that are able to enjoy living near the coast, and enjoy the comfort of milder weather and cool winds. While over in the suburbs, it can be much hotter – often five degrees hotter in Sydney’s west than the coast. And new houses haven’t been built to withstand the increasingly hot conditions.
“Children's environments, their houses, their play areas, their schools, are also affected by heat waves,” Rego said.
“When infrastructure is not heatwave resilient, children suffer immensely. A heatwave can affect their ability to sleep, to play, to learn, to engage socially. And we see that that in turn, creates anxiety, it creates stress, it creates poor concentration, and ultimately, it affects learning and livelihoods.
Australia impacting lives of kids in neighbouring Pacific nations
Changes in temperature are being fuelled by climate change, a problem caused by deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels. The continuing rise in fossil fuels is a problem Australia bares significant responsibility for.
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It is the only developed nation in the world that Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) has classified as a deforestation hotspot. And a report commissioned by the Australian Human Rights Institute this week found because of our fossil fuel exports, Australia is the second largest climate polluter in the world – ahead of the USA, but behind Russia.
Despite warnings from scientists, the country's leaders are continuing to approve new fossil fuel projects, and its environment minister has maintained in some cases their impact on the climate does not need to be considered.
Sadly it’s not just children in Australia who are being impacted by Australia’s expanding fossil fuel projects. It’s Pacific neighbours are also feeling the heat.
In Fiji, kids will now experience 11.74 heatwaves, compared with just 3.56 in the 1960s. Over in the Solomon Islands, their frequency has jumped from 1.36 heatwaves in the 1960s to 14.57 in the 2020s.
How can we make Aussie kids' lives better?
Rego argues it's important for people across generations, different backgrounds, and in different countries to reduce emissions, and mitigate the impact of climate change.
"There's really no choice but for us all to work together to solve the crisis," he said. "We need to be as ambitious as possible because we are in the critical decade in the climate crisis."
Looking locally UNICEF has called on Australia’s governments to contribute by:
Investing in heatwave resistant homes and public spaces.
Supporting schools in heatwave-prone areas.
Funding public health systems to respond to worsening heatwaves.
Educating children about climate change so they can prepare for heatwaves.
Prioritising children when planning for natural disaster responses.
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