As the climate crisis escalates, children around the world are being forced to leave their homes due to storms, floods, wildfires, droughts, and heat waves. The International Data Alliance for Children on the Move (IDAC) has released a report addressing the impact of climate mobility on children and the urgent need to protect their rights.
The report highlights the tough choices children and their families face: stay in increasingly uninhabitable areas or leave their homes in search of safety. Either choice brings challenges that could deeply affect a child’s well-being and access to critical services.
A GROWING ISSUE: CHILDREN DISPLACED BY CLIMATE CHANGE
Between 2016 and 2023, an estimated 62.1 million children were displaced internally due to weather-related disasters. These children are part of a growing population whose needs are often overlooked in the global climate agenda. Policymakersandpractitioners must now prioritize ensuring these children are not left behind.
The report raises critical questions:
- What do decision-makers need to know to protect children who migrate due to climate-related reasons?
- How are children’s rights being affected by climate migration and displacement?
- What immediate actions can be taken to ensure children’s needs are part of the response to climate change?
ACCESS TO BASIC RIGHTS: THE CHALLENGES AHEAD
Evidence from the report reveals that children on the move are likely to encounter serious barriers in accessing their basic rights. Many will be deprived of:
- Health care
- WASH services (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene)
- Education
- Social protection and child protection programs
These challenges underscore the vulnerability of children who are already displaced or may be forced to move due to environmental threats. Without targeted intervention, the lack of access to essential services could further compromise their future.
FILLING THE DATA GAPS: A CRITICAL STEP FORWARD
While the link between climate change and human mobility is still developing, data on children affected by climate mobility remain scarce. The report emphasizes that better data collection is critical to understanding and addressing the challenges these children face.
IDAC and its partners are working to fill these data gaps, offering best practices and strategies that can be adopted globally. Their recommendations urge key stakeholders to:
- Strengthen data systems to better track and understand the needs of children displaced by climate change
- Collaborate with governments, NGOs, and international bodies to ensure children on the move are recognized and protected.
WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN NOW
The IDAC report highlights several actions that must be taken immediately to ensure that children displaced by climate change are not left behind:
- Strengthen policies that include protections for children forced to migrate due to climate change
- Invest in data systems to accurately monitor child displacement and provide real-time information
- Ensure access to essential services like health care, education, and social protection for displaced children
A CALL FOR ACTION
The report makes it clear: as climate change continues to reshape childhood across the globe, children on the move need urgent attention. Without immediate action, these children will face severe disruptions to their development, safety, and overall well-being. Addressing these challenges requires a global effort to prioritize the needs of displaced children and ensure they are not left behind in the fight against climate change.
