Climate action cannot wait

On a scorching summer morning, 15-year-old Xiaopeng takes a deep breath, feeling the pressing, stifling heat. “The temperature has been rising rapidly. It's almost impossible to go outside on summer mornings because it's too hot,” he says.

For Xiaopeng, climate change is no longer an abstract issue; it’s a lived reality. Intense heat, droughts, and floods increasingly affect him and his hometown of Yongzhou, Hunan.

Xiaopeng studies at a middle school in Shenzhen. Every year during the holidays, he returns to Yongzhou to help his grandfather on their family’s plot of land. Once flourishing with rice paddies, the fields now lie dry because of the changing climate. “Droughts, floods, this extreme weather has become so much more common, and our crop yields are suffering terribly,” he says. His grandfather, Peng Zhongru, adds, “When the rain stops, it dries up. When the rain falls, it floods. Natural disasters are becoming more frequent.”

Xiaopeng is concerned for the future. “I’m very worried about the future because climate change might not be something only our generation has to deal with. Thinking about leaving this problem for the next generation makes me feel really sad,” he says.

“Global warming is intensifying, and the damage only keeps growing.”

Xiaopeng believes that humans are largely responsible for climate change “because we’ve continually taken from nature and disrupted it. For example, many factories emit large amounts of carbon dioxide, which is a key cause of the greenhouse effect,” he explains. “Once natural ecosystems are disrupted, it creates a chain reaction that leads to climate change.”

Recognizing the severity of the problem, Xiaopeng has made efforts to reduce his own carbon footprint in daily life. He rides a bicycle, uses public transport, and avoids single-use plastics. Along with his family he also volunteers on weekends at the Mangrove Foundation in Shenzhen to protect the environment and the local ecology.

At the Futian Mangrove Ecological Park, Xiaopeng leads other children and young people in clearing invasive species. He educates the public about the role mangroves play in carbon capture and the urgent need for climate action.

“We will only be effective if everyone acts together,” Xiaopeng says. “We young people can learn about climate change, understand the harm it’s causing us, and take action to protect the environment. We can also raise awareness and spread the word to inspire collective climate action.”

One of Xiaopeng’s peers, 13-year-old Yiyan, joined him in removing invasive species. He agrees that young people are at the forefront of climate action, though he adds, “Businesses must also take social responsibility. They can contribute by donating or advancing green energy technologies to help address the climate crisis.”

“Climate action is urgent.”

Virtually every child on the planet is already affected by climate change. In China, around 96 per cent of children are exposed to high risks of climate and environmental shocks.

Globally, natural disasters, environmental degradation, and biodiversity loss can devastate agriculture, cutting children off from nutritious food and safe water. These events can destroy children’s homes and the quality health care and education systems children need to survive and thrive, leaving children in unsafe environments and vulnerable to disease outbreaks.

Climate change also has the potential to escalate armed conflict, which then inevitably further degrades the environment. “It can release millions of tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, worsening the greenhouse effect and driving climate change,” Xiaopeng says. “War isn’t just a catastrophic blow to humans.”

Xiaopeng calls for more global action. “World leaders must not only address conflicts and advocate for peace but also lead by example through policies and legislation that promote climate action,” he says.

Protecting children from the effects of climate change is a priority for UNICEF. “UNICEF is working with all stakeholders to safeguard children’s rights from the effects of climate change. Their specific needs must be considered when designing and implementing climate action,” UNICEF China Programme Officer Xu Qing explains. “Their voices should be heard in climate discussions, and they must be involved in decision-making.”

The support for children's involvement in climate action at Futian Mangrove Ecological Park is one of Shenzhen's key actions under UNICEF’s Child-Friendly Cities initiative.