World Earth Day: 6 practical tips from UNICEF Portugal on how to talk to children about climate change

Climate change is a growing concern and children are particularly vulnerable to its effects. According to the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report and UNICEF analysis, nearly half of the world’s children are at “extremely high risk” due to a combination of heightened exposure to various climate hazards and insufficient services. essential.

To ensure a sustainable future for all, it is crucial to promote children’s interest in climate change from an early age and to involve them in actions that help protect our planet.

In anticipation of World Earth Day, celebrated this Saturday, April 22, UNICEF Portugal highlights 6 practical tips on how to approach the topic of climate change with children of different ages:

1. Learning more about climate change: It is important for adults to be informed so they can explain to children what climate change is, what is causing it, and what its impact is on humanity.
2. Listening and adapting the conversation to the child’s age: To start the conversation, it is essential to find out what the child already knows and what he feels about the topic. The way you explain climate change to a five-year-old is different from the way you approach the subject to a ten-year-old. It is important to adapt the conversation to the child’s age so that the information is understandable and relevant.
3. Focus on solutions and positivity: It is important to highlight positive impacting actions that families and children can take to help tackle climate change, rather than just focusing on the negatives.
4. Involve children in climate-related activities: It is helpful to start by encouraging children to get involved in activities that help protect the environment, such as planting trees, recycling, and saving energy.
5. Provide a safe environment for discussing climate change: Children should feel safe asking questions and voicing their concerns about climate change.
6. Lead by example: Adults should lead by example and take concrete steps to reduce their own carbon footprint, such as saving energy and reducing waste.

This is also an excellent opportunity to share some pedagogical resources prepared by UNICEF Portugal, such as the activity “Be a Fact-Activist!” or “Think Bigger – Collective Action for the Climate”. These two activities are part of a wider range of free resources for teachers and caregivers available on the UNICEF Schools Platform. Registration on the Platform is free and allows access to exclusive content.

For more resources and information, visit the UNICEF Portugal page dedicated to Climate Change.

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