UNICEF Raises Concern Over Children's Health And Climate Change

Bali, Indonesia (AHN) - Deaths from asthma, a common chronic disease among children, could increase by nearly 20 per cent by 2016 unless urgent action is taken to reduce emissions from vehicles and factories, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said Wednesday.

Citing data from the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF said the three biggest killers of children under five - respiratory infections, diarrhea diseases and malaria - are closely linked to environmental factors.

WHO estimates that nearly one quarter of all deaths are attributable to environmental factors, causing more than one-third of deaths among children under the age of 14.

UNICEF has released a report outlining the concerns of children and youth about climate change. The publication, "Climate Change and Children", was released this week at the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Bali.

"When young people are asked to list their concerns about the world they live in, one issue that features high on their agenda is climate change," said UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman. "While we still have a lot to learn about the consequences of climate change, economic and social development cannot be sustainable unless we deal decisively with this issue."