How Climate Change Affects Children: AAP Policy Explained
Sustainable Development Goals: 3, 4, 7, 12, 13, 16
- SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-Being
- SDG 4 - Quality Education
- SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy
- SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
- SDG 13 - Climate Action
- SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
How Climate Change Affects Children: AAP Policy Explained
When pediatricians take care of children, we aren't just thinking about their health and safety now—we are thinking about their health and safety in the future, too.
When we talk with parents about healthy diet and exercise, we aren't just thinking about good growth and energy now, we are thinking about making sure that children grow into healthy adults. When we talk with parents about tobacco exposure, we aren't just thinking about avoiding asthma attacks, we are thinking about the risk of future lung cancer. When we talk with parents about helping their children with homework, we aren't just thinking about passing first grade or getting into college, we are thinking about their ability to earn a living wage when they grow up.
That's why pediatricians care about climate change, and why the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued the policy statement entitled "Global Climate Change and Children's Health." Climate change not only affects the lives of children now, it has everything to do with their future.
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