Wendy Jasson da Costa
Already burdened by poverty and the effects of HIV/Aids, South Africa’s children will become even more vulnerable because of climate change.
Over the next few years, they will be faced with increasing migration, disease and hunger, and will also drop out of school and even suffer abuse, according to a joint study by Unicef and the South African government.
“Exploring the Impact of Climate Change on Children in South Africa” details how all regions in the country will become warmer, especially those inland, with a “substantial increase” in the number of hot days and hot nights throughout the country. Annual mean temperatures are expected to rise by up to 2.4°C, while more rainfall, up to 80% more in Limpopo, is likely to occur.
These climate changes and development pressures would have a profound effect on our children’s health, nutrition and education, as well as their emotional and social well-being, especially those living in child-headed households.
The study predicts that the incidence of malaria could rise in areas where higher rainfall was combined with higher temperatures, especially in the North West and Free State provinces.
Rise
In areas where higher levels of rainfall were projected, the incidence of water and airborne diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera and bilharzia was also likely to rise.
However, where rainfall was expected to decrease, such as in the west of the country, issues of land degradation, soil erosion and lower food production would be of particular concern to both children and households generally. “In these contexts, young children are most vulnerable to such threats as an inadequate supply of safe drinking water and malnutrition because of their physical vulnerability and nutritional needs.”
In addition, where households faced high levels of stress from loss of livelihoods, or from having been displaced to find alternative livelihoods, evidence from other countries showed that children were more likely to experience emotional or physical abuse and neglect.
The report states that currently half of all South Africa’s children live in rural areas, most of them in KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and the Eastern Cape. It recommends that children become more involved in issues related to climate change, so that they can transfer the knowledge to their households and communities.
It also recommends that the provision of water, sanitation and waste removal services be prioritised to households that have children.
