Climate change means sicker kids, says a leading group of pediatricians.
"Because of their growing minds and bodies, children are uniquely vulnerable to changes in their environment," said the American Academy of Pediatrics in a policy statement released Monday.
Increasingly severe heat waves and other extreme weather events represent a major threat. The academy predicts that the rise in temperatures will lead to an increase in heart-related illness among children. The risk is particularly high for infants and teenagers playing sports.
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A warmer earth also means more smog, which poses a threat to young respiratory systems and will lead to more asthma attacks. Similarly, increasingly common forest fires produce toxic smoke that can provoke respiratory illnesses thousands of miles away from the site of the fire.
And the carbon dioxide being pumped into our atmosphere could help produce pollen from ragweed, a common source of allergies.
A changing climate could also influence the patterns of infectious diseases, such as the West Nile virus and diarrheal illnesses and malaria. In fact, the academy says rising temperatures have already been linked to a higher prevalence of Lyme disease in the northern U.S.
Natural disasters also pose a unique threat to society's weakest. Not only are children and infants most likely to be harmed by hurricanes and tornadoes, but the psychological impact of such disasters could mean lifelong consequences in the form of post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression.
Finally, climate change could undermine society's ability to adequately nourish its children.
Global warming could further limit the access many Americans–particularly the poor–have to healthy food. Not only could a changing climate reduce or wipe out production of certain foods in some areas, but it might alter the nutrient content of many staple crops, such as rice and wheat.
Of course, there are just the problems that climate change will cause during childhood.
Perhaps the greatest threat that climate change poses to today's children is that it will make the world in which they become adults more dangerous. And it will make it even harder for them to raise kids of their own.
In terms of solutions, the group isn't proposing much that is different than what environmental groups have previously called for: It advocates for parents to push for clean air initiatives and for people to reduce their energy consumption and to prepare themselves for extreme weather events.
"Pediatricians, parents and our communities today have an unprecedented opportunity to protect our children and grandchildren," the statement said.
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