Report: “Climate Landscape Analysis for Children in Greece”

The climate crisis is a child rights crisis. Children face distinct and heightened risks from the escalating im- pacts of climate change and increase in disasters. As disasters increase in number and severity around the world, children and young people in several countries but also in Greece bear the greatest burdens that can last a lifetime. They are often impacted first and most severely by crisis in their education, livelihoods, health and wellbeing. Girls, women, people with disabilities, displaced children, and families living under the poverty line are especially vulnerable. Disasters threaten all children’s inherent rights guaranteed in the Convention on the Rights of the Child to life, survival, protection, development, participation and free expression. The pres- ent report provides an analysis of the state of climate in Greece; a review of the climate policy and regulatory framework assessing the extent of child sensitivity and inclusivity; a children’s vulnerability mapping of the 13 Regions of Greece; and lastly how climate change affects children in Greece, mainly in the domain of education, overall service provision, mental health and well-being. The key outcomes have been shaped into a set of recommendations to competent Authorities and stakeholders that directly address the critical challenges faced by children in Greece in the aftermath of environmental disasters, exacerbated by climate change.

Key findings & takeaways of the present report:

• 2023 was the warmest year of the last 30 years, and the third driest year since 1991.
• 25 Municipalities declared State of Emergency on the grounds of drought and water stress in the period May-September 2024.
• Existing national policy & regulatory framework on climate change adaptation lacks particular measures and pro- visions for and by children, as well as other social standards.
• Peloponnese, Thessaly and Western Greece are the three Regions of Greece with a higher disaster risks 307,763 children are estimated to be at high risk of being affected by climate change in Greece.
• 80% of teachers that participated in the focus group discussion stated that the schools they work (or have previously worked) at are inadequately equipped to handle extreme weather events.
• Almost 70% of students that participated in the U-Report poll reported that they were not able to attend their class- es due to adverse weather during the last year.
• Increased anxiety, followed by limited greenery and forests were the two most prevalent effects of climate change as reported by young people participating in the U-Report poll.

Authors: George Dikaios, PhD, Research Fellow,ELIAMEP; Persefoni Kerentzi , PhD (c ), Schoolteacher; Vagia Tsoutsi, PhD, Reseacher at Aiginiteio University Hospital Athens; Marianna Terezaki, Research Assistant, ELIAMEP; Socratis Vlachakis, Programme Officer- Climate & Environment, UNICEF.
Advisory committee: Emmanouella Doussis, Professor, NKUA

Read the full report here in pdf.