Written by Patrice Peck
What will the world look like for children in 2050? Will they live in a future where they can navigate safely and benefit from new technologies? Will they see progress in reducing carbon emissions and renewable energy and inherit a sustainable environment without climate threats? According to UNICEF State of the World’s Children Report 2024It’s not just wishful thinking – it’s achievable if leaders take bold and timely action.
“We have the chance to shape a better future for children, the one that every child deserves, but we must start today,” says Bo Viktor Nylund, director of UNICEF Innocenti.
Children play in a wheat field in Dacaotan village, Zhang county, Gansu province, August 1, 2023. UNICEF worked with the All China Women’s Federation (ACWF) to create Early childhood development centers that support early learning and care for children ages 0-6 in communities affected by migration. The program helps caregivers support their children’s development through responsive care and learning through play.
© UNICEF / UNI616813 / Chai
However, Nylund warns that the powerful forces shaping 21st century life could deepen existing inequalities unless leaders take meaningful steps to spur positive change. The report shows that nearly 14 times more children could face extreme heatwaves in the 2050s than today, for example.
Nylund says leaders in governments, businesses, NGOs, human rights organizations and civil society must address two distinct but critical forces: the escalating climate and environmental crises, which threaten children and communities, and the rapid evolution of border technologies, which pose risks and opportunities. The UNICEF report lays out a road map for everyone, painting a picture of how today’s choices will define tomorrow’s world and who will thrive in it.
How the climate and environmental crisis will affect every area of children’s lives
Today’s children are growing up in a dangerous and unpredictable world. The UNICEF report says that almost half of all children – around 1 billion – in countries at high risk of climate crises like heat waves, wildfires, droughts and air pollution air. Rising temperatures have spread deadly diseases like malaria, dengue and zika while flooding contaminates water supplies, increasing waterborne illnesses – a cause of death for children under five. Education is also at risk due to extreme weather. Since 2022, climate-related school closures have affected 400 million students worldwide. These disruptions not only lead to missed lessons, but also harm children’s mental health and limit their future opportunities – also affecting economies.
Every child has the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, according to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, but environmental risks present “an urgent and systemic threat to children’s rights.” Without a rapid global response, Nylund says climate-induced impacts on children will worsen and mitigation efforts will become even more costly.
The UNICEF report describes different future scenarios based on decisions made today. A worst-case scenario prevents eight times more children facing extreme heatwaves in 2050 compared to the beginning of the century, and the number of children exposed to extreme river flooding. The best cases of accelerated development are better, but still predict negative impacts, including 301 million children facing heat waves in 2050, the report said.
“If we act now, we have a real chance to address the climate realities that children may face in 2050,” says Cristina Shapiro, director of strategy for UNICEF USA. “Imagine schools designed to withstand floods and hurricanes and a generation of children equipped with the skills to lead the solutions.
Shapiro points to UNICEF’s Today and Tomorrow initiative that supports climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction and preparedness – communities prevent and minimize climate and disaster risks, particularly for children, while by protecting our common future.
Nylund says achieving a better case requires a commitment to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which for 35 years has been a cornerstone for improving the lives of children around the world. It adds that the CRC framework is vital at a time when decades of hard-won progress are under threat, particularly for girls’ rights, as some governments and institutions roll back legal protections, limit access to education and restrict reproductive health services.
“The convention provides essential guidance and remains an evergreen tool… for governments, the United Nations, multilateral systems, businesses and civil society as they develop policies, approaches and practices to the challenges of ‘today and tomorrow,’ says Nylund. “It emphasizes respecting children’s voices, agencies and abilities as they develop.”
Preparing children for a climate-stressed world also means prioritizing climate literacy in schools. Just one additional year of schooling can increase climate awareness by 9%, which can provide students with the skills needed to address the crisis and advocate for a habitable future. Unfortunately, many low- and middle-income countries do not have the resources to include these topics in their curricula.
“Fostering tomorrow’s climate leaders is at the heart of UNICEF’s work,” says Shapiro. “By expanding access to education, particularly for young women and girls – we can ensure that young people are drivers of meaningful change. Equipping the next generation with essential skills in emerging technology, AI, green innovation, leadership and advocacy enables them to meet the challenges ahead. »
“Education also pushes individuals to take action on climate change, including embracing responsible consumerism and building future generations of strong leadership in the fight against the climate crisis,” says Nylund.
How Frontier Technologies Promise Dramatic Improvements and Challenges for Children
As leaders search for solutions, rapidly advancing technologies offer new opportunities. Neurotechnologies – such as non-invasive tools that measure brain activity for attention – could help personalize education to children’s individual needs. The transformative technology could improve the diagnosis and treatment of various disorders, helping children become healthier.
“Technology gives us an incredible opportunity to transform the way children learn and grow,” says Shapiro. “The key is to ensure every child can benefit, no matter where they live. When we get it right, we don’t just close gaps – we unlock potential on a global scale.”
Shapiro adds that AI systems have the potential to help children learn and express themselves in new ways and drive economic growth. However, technology alone does not make the world a better place; Its potential depends on how societies, governments and businesses design and apply it. Without thoughtful planning, the report shows these innovations could deepen inequality instead of reducing it.
The digital divide is already leaving some children further behind. The UNICEF report shows that lack of internet access limits children’s opportunities compared to their more privileged peers. Early and safe online engagement helps children develop soft skills, such as critical thinking and reasoning, as well as the digital skills needed for future work. By 2030, more than 230 million jobs in sub-Saharan Africa will require digital skills, but only 37% of the population has internet access due to unreliable electricity and infrastructure.
Additionally, as technology advances, the risks of exploitation, surveillance, and biased algorithms increase. Children’s privacy, freedom and safety are at stake. “While recognizing the potential of AI to benefit children, UNICEF also recognizes the risks,” says Nylund.
Nylund emphasizes that developers and policymakers must ensure that AI evolves in ways that protect and empower children. UNICEF has Principles developed for child-centered AIincluding fairness, security and transparency. Nylund says governments – and, where appropriate, businesses, should apply these principles while investing in digital infrastructure, affordable devices and digital literacy programs to ensure children benefit equitably from technological advances. A fairer future for every child relies on equitable and healthy access to technology.
“To be disconnected in a digital world is to be deprived of opportunities in the present and potential in the future,” says Nylund.
A call to global action
Looking to 2050 and beyond, the UNICEF report provides clear evidence of why the world must work to reduce emissions, build climate-resilient infrastructure and prioritize equitable access to digital technology. Governments must also integrate children’s rights into national laws, hold businesses accountable and invest in systems that protect child welfare.
Despite the immense obstacles children face, there are solutions to address these challenges. With global action and inclusive collective efforts, we can create a world where children not only survive but thrive.
Read the full State of the World’s Children Report 2024.
Learn more about UNICEF.