Children On The Frontlines: How Climate Change Threatens Future Generations
By Princess-Ekwi Ajide
The laughter of children used to echo through playgrounds and farmlands; today, in many parts of Africa, that laughter is drowned out by the harsh realities of a changing climate.
From scorching heatwaves to flash floods and food insecurity, climate change is no longer a distant threat, it is rewriting the childhood experience for millions of young people.
Across Nigeria’s flood-prone states like Bayelsa, Jigawa, and Anambra, children wade through waist-deep water to salvage schoolbooks and belongings.
In the arid north, others trek long distances in search of clean water as wells run dry.
UNICEF says over 1 billion children globally are at “extremely high risk” from climate impacts, a figure that paints a stark picture of a generation growing up under siege.
Experts warn that the consequences go beyond physical hardship. Climate anxiety is rising among young people, many of whom feel betrayed by inaction.
According to an environmental advocate, Chizoba Udeh, who runs a youth climate network in Enugu “children are paying the price for a crisis they didn’t create.” “They face hunger, lost education, and health challenges, yet their voices remain underrepresented in climate decisions.”
Still, hope is not lost. Across schools and communities, young climate champions are emerging, planting trees, leading clean-up drives, and using digital platforms to demand accountability.
Their activism underscores a truth the world can no longer ignore: safeguarding the future begins with listening to those who will live it.
Because when children stand on the frontlines of climate change, protecting them becomes the world’s greatest responsibility.
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