The United Nations Development Program (UNDP), in collaboration with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and The Weather Channel, has launched the Weather Kids campaign ahead of World Meteorological Day on March 23 to drive home the impact of climate change on future generations.
"Everything is going crazy here - from the top, to the bottom. If we don't listen to scientists, it will be worse when I grow up. This is the forecast for 2050. Heat waves already affect 94 percent of children, and playing outside is no longer possible," declares 11-year-old Kaylle from the United States.
Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator, underscores the urgency of the campaign: "Children born in 2020 could experience up to seven times more extreme weather events such as heat waves compared to their grandparents. Our new WeatherKids campaign addresses the growing concerns of young people around the world about their rights and future."
The campaign is supported by renowned figures including Oscar-winning actress Michelle Yeoh, Connie Britton, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.
"Weather Kids is a strong voice warning us of a future that is sure to materialize if we don't take meaningful climate action today," Steiner added, highlighting the necessity of decarbonizing economies, expanding access to clean energy, and empowering communities to participate in climate commitments.
The forecasts, developed from IPCC data and UNDP's Climate Horizons platform, offer a glimpse into a future marred by school closures due to heat, rampant fires, and devastating floods. "Schools are closed because it's too hot. Fires are ravaging entire cities. And floods are making everything wet and disgusting," one child broadcaster reports.
The campaign is joined by the world's biggest TV stations, such as CNN, Rai and France.
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Source: IAR, WMO, press materials