UNICEF report/ "Children will face unprecedented challenges by 2050"

2024-11-21 08:46:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

UNICEF report/ "Children will face unprecedented challenges by 2050"

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The State of Children 2024 and the Future of Childhood in a Changing World explores three trends facing young people, including climate disasters, demographic change and technological disparities that will dramatically reshape childhood by 2050 .

"It is shocking that in the 21st century, every child still remains hungry, uneducated or without the most basic health care," said UN Secretary-General António Guterres in his message for World Children's Day.

"It is a blot on the conscience of humanity when children's lives are caught in the grinding wheels of poverty or overturned by disaster."

The climate emergency threatens lives

In a stark warning, the report finds that children will face eight times more exposure to extreme heat waves and triple the risk of extreme river flooding compared to 2000.

After record temperatures in 2023, projected climate risks will disproportionately affect children based on their socioeconomic backgrounds and access to resources.

"Children are experiencing a host of crises from climate shocks to online risks, and these are set to intensify in the coming years," warned UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.

"Creating a better future in 2050 requires more than just imagination, it requires action. Decades of progress, especially for girls, are under threat."

Shifting demographics

The report also predicts significant population changes, with sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia expecting the largest child populations by the 2050s.

While still high, Africa's child population will fall below 40 percent - down from 50 percent in the 2000s. East Asia and Western Europe data show a 17 percent decline compared to 29 percent and 20 percent for those regions during the 2000s.

These demographic changes create challenges, with some countries under pressure to expand services to large child populations, while others balance the needs of a growing elderly population.

The digital divide

While artificial intelligence and frontier technologies offer new opportunities, the report finds that the digital divide remains stark: in 2024 over 95 percent of people in high-income countries have access to the Internet compared to just 26 percent in low-income countries. low.

The report notes that young people in developing countries particularly struggle to access digital skills, affecting their educational and workplace prospects.

Signs of hope

Despite these concerns, some positive trends have emerged. Life expectancy at birth continues to rise, and nearly 96 percent of children worldwide are expected to receive primary education by the 2050s.

Increased investment in education and public health and stricter environmental protection could narrow the gender gap and reduce exposure to environmental hazards, the report finds.

UNICEF recommends urgent investment in education, services and sustainable and resilient cities for children.

The agency aims to increase climate resilience in infrastructure, technology, essential services and social support systems, as well as providing safe technology connectivity and design for all children.

"The decisions world leaders make today — or fail to make — determine the world children will inherit," Russell said.