A report by the Centre for Child Law has shown that children are more susceptible to climate change.
In a symposium held in Pretoria to discuss children’s rights and the effects of air pollution caused by coal, the organization said that the continuous usage of fossil fuels indicates the necessity to protect children’s rights.
The centre’s director, Karabo Ozah stated that they based their conclusions on a recently commissioned study.
“The research that we have shows that because of the vulnerability of children, the fact that they’re still developing, they’re more inclined to feel the adverse effects of climate change worse than adults.”
One of the presenters at the symposium, Michelle Sithole from the Centre for Environmental Rights said that it was important to abandon fossil fuels like coal.
“So coal will be expensive in the long-term focus. And not only that but also in terms of health care because of people living in coal-affected communities having respiratory illnesses and a lot of other illnesses such as cancer.”
Organizations have also asked for an increase in locally oriented awareness campaigns that emphasize the effects of climate change.
Story was adapted from ewn.
