South Asia is one of the most vulnerable regions globally to a number of direct and indirect effects of climate change. In the 2017 edition German Watch’s Climate Risk Index Bangladesh and Pakistan respectively ranked sixth and seventh as the countries most affected by climate change in the period from 1996 to 2015.The Executive Director of UNICEF has stated that “there may be no greater, growing threat facing the world’s children — and their children — than climate change”.
In the context of Pakistan we have seen how displacements resulting from floods, earthquakes and droughts have put children at a higher risk of abuse, child labour and trafficking.
It is therefore crucial to embark in a global, regional and national child participatory journey to address environmental and child protection issues.