ECI supports an ongoing partnership between the WHO, UNEP and UNICEF in the area of children’s health and the environment. This booklet summarizes key messages for action on different environmental health
issues, including global environmental change; water pollution sanitation and hygiene; nutrition, growth and development; vectors of disease; air pollution; chemicals; injuries; environmental emergencies, noise and healthy housing.

Children are more likely to succumb to natural disasters. They are born into this climate change problem – trees being cut – rubbish being burned. These are serious issues affecting a child’s health and future. —Honorable Maria Mutagamba, Minister of Water and Environment, Republic of Uganda

Children’s Environmental Health

Evidence is increasing that environmental degradation; toxic chemicals and global climate change pose major threats to the health, development and survival of the world’s children. Annually more than 3 million children under 5 years die from preventable environmentrelated causes. In children, the largest burden of disease attributable to environmental factors is caused by diarrhoeal diseases, lower respiratory infections, and malaria and other vector borne diseases.

Children throughout the world are exposed to a complex array of environmental risks that are increasing and compounded by old and new risk factors including:

  • Increased production, use and movement of harmful chemicals, and disposal of hazardous wastes,
  • Increasing air pollution, new technology and epidemiology,
  • The changing global environment, including climate change, loss of biodiversity and desertification.

Article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by 189 countries in 1989, specifically calls for “the provision of (access to) adequate nutritious foods and clean drinking-water, taking into consideration the dangers and risks of environmental pollution.”

Resources

Busan Pledge for Action on Children’s Health and the Environment

World Health Organization (WHO) on Children’s Environmental Health

Healthy Environments for Children Alliance (HECA)

WHO School Health and Youth Health promotion

Earthchild Institute was editor of:

Healthy Environments for Healthy Children: A Summary of Key Messages by WHO, UNEP and UNICEF