Take a minute to write an introduction that is short, sweet, and to the point.
Least responsible but most impacted
Despite being the least responsible for climate change, young children will be the ones facing the greatest impacts of climate change.
Damage begins in-utero
Children’s health outcomes linked to climate and environmental hazards begin in-utero. Maternal exposure to climate and environmental stressors such as air pollution and heat, has an impact on the unborn child, increasing the odds of preterm and stillbirth. For example, the Zika virus, which is transmitted by mosquitoes, has little impact on adults but can cause serious birth defects to the fetus.
Children are more susceptible than adults
Relative to their body mass, children breathe, eat and drink more than adults. However, their bodies, brains and immune systems are not fully developed. Low levels of environmental exposure that may be tolerable for adults can have detrimental effects on children.
Infants and young children are more susceptible to heat illness than adults because they may have less effective thermoregulation, higher metabolic rates and can more rapidly become dehydrated. Children are more susceptible to a wide range of infections and diseases.