- Nigeria ranks as the second worst country on the Children’s Climate Risk Index, according to UNICEF’s 2023 Climate Landscape Analysis
- Environmental degradation in Nigeria severely threatens children’s health, education, and well-being, impacting over 100 million children nationwide
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has reported that Nigeria ranks as the second-worst country globally on the Children’s Climate Risk Index. This finding comes from the Nigeria Climate Landscape Analysis for Children (CLAC, 2023) report. Rahama Rihood Mohammed Farah, UNICEF’s chief of the Kano field office, made the announcement during the World Environment Day 2024 commemoration.
This year’s World Environment Day theme, “Land Restoration, Desertification, and Drought Resilience,” highlights critical environmental challenges. Farah emphasized the significant impact of climate change and environmental degradation on Nigeria. He stated, “The health of our land is fundamental to our well-being. It is the foundation of our agriculture, the source of our water, and the bedrock of our ecosystems. Yet, around the globe, we are witnessing unprecedented levels of land degradation.”
He noted the severe consequences of desertification and drought, which are turning fertile soil into deserts and reducing productivity in many regions, including North-West Nigeria. “Globally, 40 percent of the world’s population is impacted by land degradation, and millions are directly affected by droughts annually. In Nigeria, where over 100 million children live, environmental degradation threatens their health, education, and overall well-being,” Farah explained.
According to the UNICEF Climate Landscape Analysis for Children (CLAC, 2023) report, Nigeria’s second-worst ranking on the Children’s Climate Risk Index underscores the vulnerability of its younger population. Farah pointed out that children are the most affected by environmental degradation. “When land becomes infertile and water sources dry up, children face food insecurity, malnutrition, and water scarcity, conditions that stifle their growth and development,” he said.
The commemoration of World Environment Day serves as a call to action to address these pressing environmental issues and work towards sustainable solutions to protect the planet for future generations.