The Impacts of Climate Change on Human Development

There is clear evidence of the negative impacts of climate change on development and wellbeing across the lifespan with direct impacts on individuals and the social and ecological systems that support positive human development (Bronfenbrenner & Morris, 2006). Children are especially vulnerable to climate change events because healthy physical and psychological growth in the early years is contingent on ecological and social support.  These early impacts are likely to have repercussions throughout later development, especially when individuals have repeated exposure to climate-related disasters. According to UNICEF’s Children’s Climate Risk Index (UNICEF, 2021), about one third of the world’s children are exposed to four or more climate stressors, and nearly half of children live in countries that are at ‘extremely high-risk’ to the impacts of climate change. These countries are predominantly in the Global South, where fewer resources are available to prevent, prepare for, and recover from climate-related disasters. Older adults and the elderly and those with disabilities are also highly vulnerable to climate change because of reduced ability to adapt to changing temperatures and resources and to relocate if necessary. 

In addition to the negative impacts on development from direct exposure to climate-related events, there is now clear evidence that most people around the world are worried about the impact of climate change on their future lives. The largest public opinion survey on climate change conducted to date obtained the views of 1.22 million respondents across 50 countries; of these, 64% said that climate change was an emergency, and 59% said that the world should urgently do everything necessary in response (https://www.undp.org/publications/peoples-climate-vote). 
Peopleexpress a range of emotions including anxiety, fear, grief, anger and hopelessness in response to the climate crisis, and young people are especially distressed (Bellet al., 2021; Sanson, et al., 2022).  A survey of 10,000 youth, aged 16 to 25 years, across 10 countries found that close to 60% reported feeling “very” or “extremely” worried about climate change; 58% reported feelings of betrayal due to their government’s inadequate responses to the climate crisis; and 56% felt that humanity is doomed (Hickman et al., 2021). In sum, the impacts of climate change on human development are already significant, and they are set to increase as climate change worsens.