Every Child Will Feel It

The climate crisis will profoundly affect the health of every child alive today, report says

Jen Christensen, November 13, 2019 (CNN)

“…If the world continues to produce the same amount of carbon emissions, a child born today could be living in a world with an average temperature that's 7.2 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius) warmer by their 71st birthday, according to the medical journal The Lancet…[It] would be devastating for our health…A warmer world means more disease, famine, early death from natural disasters such as fire and heat waves, and more major mental health problems. Everyone will be affected, but the most vulnerable will be disproportionately threatened: children, the elderly, people with underlying health conditions and the poor…

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…[I]f the world takes bold action to curb carbon emissions, this dire future could be avoided…To limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, global greenhouse gas emissions have to be cut by at least 45% of 2010 levels by 2030. They had to get to net zero by 2050…A child born in London today would no longer use electricity generated by coal by their 6th birthday…A child born in France today wouldn't be driving a gas- or diesel-fueled car by their 21st birthday…[The world has yet to see a response from governments that matches the scale of the challenge, but China] is continuing to reduce its reliance on coal…Europe saw improvements in air pollution levels from 2015 to 2016…Globally, more people are driving electric cars…” click here for more

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