More than half the world’s children, or approximately 1 billion children, are already at an extremely high risk from the impacts of climate change. However, to date, only 2.4 percent of climate finance over the 17-year period to 2023 from key multilateral climate funds (MCFs) has been fully child responsive.
UNICEF will take this opportunity at COP29 to call for the need to scale up climate finance for child-critical social services. Key contributors will include leadership representatives of MCFs, prominent international development organizations, developing country ministerial level representative and a voice of youth.
The lead contributors will explore the urgent need to design and implement new projects that support countries to enhance climate-smart education, health, child protection, WASH, and social protection systems. Key investment opportunities include climate resilient infrastructure, early warning systems, solar power, boreholes and water pumps, sanitation facilities, anticipatory cash transfer schemes, and youth accelerators.
The event will facilitate the engagement of young people with key climate finance stakeholders on advancing climate action for children.