Climate Change and Child Exploitation in Asia : What Children Say
From November 30th to December 12th, world leaders assemble at the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference or COP 28 to discuss important action on combating the ill effects of climate change. At this time, it is important for dialogues on how climate change impacts children. So, how does climate change affect children? Let's hear from them.
Quotes from children
“We are a farmer's family so our whole family depends on rain, seed and soil but due to climate change, we are unable to grow crops that we used to grow in the previous years which has impacted our income. I was forced to leave school in the 8th standard as I needed to support my family financially. It has been a year since I have not been to school. Only my brother goes to school.”
"We belong to a poor family and we cannot afford jar water for drinking. So, we used to bring water from the Dhunge Dhara (Stone Tap). Due to climate change, there is no water in Dhunge Dhara. So, we started buying cheap water for drinking and daily chores which made our family sick most of the time. That’s why we decided to bring water from another stone tap which is far from our home. So, my time after school and the whole Saturday is spent bringing water from the stone tap ( Dhunge Dhara). I am unable to focus on my studies."
"Climate change means the changing of the weather on earth. It affects me in a way that there are times that it’s too hot and I don’t like it. I can’t bear the heat."
Quotes from children
"There was one strong typhoon that I remember well. The roof of our house was almost flown away. Because we are children, we are vulnerable. It was too difficult for me, especially mentally. I worried a lot and some things kept bothering me."
"The calamity intensifies my problems. In terms of education, we are made to do many things, or our lessons are delayed. When a typhoon comes, class suspension follows. When we didn’t have an evacuation center yet or when the time came that we did, we didn’t have a safe space to study. This made the problem worse. Financially, we also encounter problems. If a calamity comes, we have no livelihood and then we cannot buy food to eat. Our parents do their best in these situations."
"It came to a point that Mama tied us all together since the water was rising fast. We were on the ceiling, the four of us. Mama tied us so that we will not get separated. I kept on crying. I asked myself,' Are we going to die?' It seemed to me that we would not be able to make it."
"I had a mental block. I wasn’t able to speak. Then we heard that the city proper was washed out, that nothing was left."
