From Pollution to Protection:
Four Ways that Business Can Ensure a Greener Future for Children

This year’s Earth Day theme is “Invest in our Planet” and, at Global Child Forum, we think the best way to do this is by investing in our children.

With every degree of warming, a child born today faces a future where their health and well-being will be increasingly impacted by the realities and dangers of a warmer world. Infectious diseases, worsening air pollution, rising temperatures and malnutrition strike children the hardest. In fact, UNICEF, in a 2021 study, warns that one billion children at ‘extremely high risk’ of the impacts of the climate crisis.

As corporations struggle to get to grips with climate change, pursuing mitigating and adaptation strategies, their choices and actions will, directly and indirectly, affect children.

The link between children’s rights and the environment is rooted in recognizing that children are particularly vulnerable to environmental degradation and climate change. Children are more likely to experience the health impacts of pollution, such as asthma and other respiratory diseases, and are also more susceptible to the effects of climate change, such as extreme weather events and food insecurity. Moreover, children who grow up in polluted and degraded environments may face long-term consequences, including developmental delays and reduced cognitive function.

Lauren Wright, a teen climate activist from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, spoke at Global Child Forum’s ActionLab, “A Collapsing Planet” in 2020 and implored business and governmental leaders not to ignore the impacts of climate change on young people: “For my entire life, I have lived on a planet with an expiration date. I have never had the luxury of a guaranteed future where I can live and grow up on a healthy planet that can sustain me. We need to take rapid action to mitigate the effects of the climate crisis, drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and work towards climate justice for all.”

Business has a tremendous impact on the environment and communities in which they operate. With the added pressure of meeting climate goals, many companies have a robust set of policies, and are taking decisive action to reduce their negative impact. With the growing demands for climate justice and ensuring that any efforts to reduce environmental/climate impact also needs to consider human rights, this is an area where most companies have a major opportunity to improve and can use a child rights perspective to achieve this.

Given the importance of protecting children’s rights and the environment, businesses have a critical role to play. Here are four ways companies can do their part in creating a more sustainable future:

1. Conduct a child impact assessment: While looking at their climate policies and actions, companies need to conduct child rights impact assessments concerning their environmental impact and pay particular attention to the community impact of their efforts in the area of environment and climate change. Many companies fail to understand the impact of their actions on children. In fact, some well-intended policies may harm children and the communities in which they or their suppliers operate by extracting minerals, using land, etc. To learn about companies’ impact and response, read more about our children’s rights and business benchmark and our Impact area results here.
2. Reduce Carbon Footprint: Reducing carbon footprint is important for all, but especially for children: both for them to see that the adult world is taking this concern seriously and doing all they can (not just talking about it or doing ‘too little too late’); but also to create a cleaner, healthier environment for children.
   Businesses can reduce their carbon footprint by implementing energy-efficient practices and using renewable energy sources.
3. Implement Sustainable Business Practices: Companies can ensure a greener future for children by implementing sustainable business practices. This includes reducing waste, using eco-friendly products, and implementing sustainable sourcing practices. Additionally, companies can source materials from sustainable suppliers, ensuring that their products are made in an environmentally responsible manner.
4. Support Environmental Programs: Lastly, companies can ensure a greener future for children by supporting environmental programs. Companies can partner with non-profit organizations that focus on environmental issues or they can create their own programs to promote sustainability.

Companies are responsible for ensuring a greener future for children. By taking action now, we can create a sustainable and livable world for all.