UNICEF NZ (UN Children’s Fund)
Media Release

State of the World's Children 2011 Report - Climate change ‘real’ for Kiribati youth

Wellington, 26 February 2011-02-23

Climate change is “eating away’ the future for young people in Kiribati, putting their physical and mental development at risk, according to the President of the Republic of Kiribati, Anote Tong, in UNICEF’s latest State of the World’s Children 2011 Report (SOWC).

The SOWC , issued annually, aims to raise awareness of the situation of children throughout the world. This year’s report focuses attention on adolescents (10-19 year olds) and highlights statistics and information about the challenges and opportunities facing adolescents globally in the areas of health, education, protection and participation.

Kiribati, with a total land area of 811 square kilometres, is among the most vulnerable countries in terms of the global warming and sea level rises. In an essay in the SOWC report, President Tong says climate change is real and he urges families, communities and governments to work together to tackle the issue.

“Global warming will change the lives of our young people in more ways than we can imagine. In 30 to 40 years, their nation, their home may no longer be habitable – it may not even exist. It is time to face facts. We need to act swiftly and decisively to minimize the adverse impact that climate change is having and will continue to have on Kiribati.”

Developing the country’s ICT would enable more young people to participate in discussions on climate change, Mr. Tong says. “Investing in information communication technology across the country will enable us to teach, learn and share information on climate change and its related issues much more quickly. As the ones facing the brunt of this global challenge, our children and adolescents must be at the forefront of tackling the problem.”

The underlying theme of SOWC 2011 is the importance of investing in adolescence to break cycles of poverty and inequity. Climate change is one of the many issues facing young people globally, which include economic turmoil, environmental degradation, explosive urbanisation and migration, aging societies, the rising costs of healthcare, and escalating humanitarian crises. Strong investments during the last two decades have resulted in enormous progress in the health and welfare of young children up to the age of 10, but there have been fewer gains in areas critically affecting adolescents, the report says.

“Adolescence is a pivot point – an opportunity to consolidate the gains we have made in early childhood or risk seeing those gains wiped out,” said Anthony Lake, UNICEF Executive Director. “We need to focus more attention now on reaching adolescents -- especially adolescent girls -- investing in education, health and other measures to engage them in the process of improving their own lives.”

UNICEF says investment is needed to:

Improve data collection to increase the understanding of adolescents’ situation and meet their rights;
• Invest in education and training so that adolescents have the means to lift themselves out of poverty and contribute to their national economies;
• Expand opportunities for youth to participate and voice their opinion, for example in national youth councils, youth forums, community service initiatives, online activism and other avenues;
• Promote laws, policies and programmes that protect the rights of adolescents and enable them to overcome barriers to essential services;
• Step up the fight against poverty and inequity through child sensitive programmes to prevent adolescents from being prematurely catapulted into adulthood.
“Millions of young people around the world are waiting for a greater action by all of us. Giving all young people the tools they need to improve their own lives will foster a generation of economically-independent citizens who are fully engaged in civic life and able to actively contribute to their communities,” said Lake.

Note to Editors: SOWC 2011 will be officially launched In the Pacific region by Dr. Isiye Ndombi – Representative, UNICEF Pacific, at the University of South Pacific, Suva on Saturday 26 February, at 10 am Suva time.

A five minute video on climate change featuring President Tong and adolescents in Kiribati will also be screened during the launch. The video will be accessible from 26 February through the UNICEF Pacific website: Kiribati youth views are dealing with climate change

Broadcast quality video footage relating to the wider SOWC 2011 report is also available free of charge at www.thenewsmarket.com/unicef

More information
• Read the State of the World's Children 2011 Report
• Learn about how Kiribati youth views are dealing with climate change by viewing this video
• Find out why climate change is a big issue for children around the world and what UNICEF is doing about it

ENDS

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