Climate change and children's health: resilience challenges for Brazil

Objective  Three decades of evidence compiled by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports is clear about the unequivocal impacts of humans on the global climate system are unequivocal and the wide range of effects on natural, social, and economic systems. Studies on impacts, vulnerability, and adaptation present the current impact on health and future consequences under different climate and greenhouse gas emissions scenarios. This article discusses some of the impacts of climate change on children's health which represents one of the most vulnerable groups.

Sources  Evidence was sourced from recent scientific papers and reports referring to the potential impacts on children's health associated with the extreme events in Brazil observed in Brazil between 2023 and 2024 (heat waves and droughts, wildfires, and floods).

Summary of the findings  Besides global warming, climate change is associated with more frequent and intense extreme events such as droughts, floods, and wildfires. Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable due to physiological characteristics, interaction with exposure factors, and because they will live longer under changing conditions. Climate change projections and the intensification of impacts for Brazil highlight the adaptation challenges related to the protection of children under a changing climate and the role of the preparation of the country's health system, educators, and parents.

Conclusions  The article underscores the need for collaboration among policymakers, health professionals, and educators, as well as the communities, to effectively address the adaptation challenges and build resilience to protect children against the impacts of climate change.

Keywords
Extreme events; Adaptation; Health systems