UNICEF Interventions to address a Climate Emergency – What Works

Abstract: UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, to defend their rights, and to help them fulfil their potential, from early childhood through adolescence. Increasingly UNICEF is working to address the impact of the climate emergency which threatens all children. UNICEF actively evaluates its programmes in order to identify what works and how to improve the impact of its interventions.

Objectives and Methods: In partnership with Newcastle University, 631 UNICEF evaluations were synthesised, and this included a focus on those programmes addressing climate emergencies.

Results: The review identified 20 programmes that addressed climate change, and its impact. In all cases, the programmes aimed to support adaptations to respond to the consequences of climate change. The range of interventions included seeking to build safe and resilient water, sanitation and hygiene systems, for example, developing infrastructures to protect from drought and flooding. They also included working closely with national and local governments to develop research and build business cases relating to green growth, and protect vulnerable communities. The review highlighted that children are overlooked in key regional, national, climate and energy related strategies, policies and legislation. UNICEF is actively seeking to provide educational interventions, so children become central to climate policy.