Climate change: Children in Europe are particularly at risk – act now!

Climate change: Children in Europe are particularly at risk – act now!

In her lecture during the lecture series “Children and Living Environments” at the University of Vechta, Dr. Iris Lüschen discussed the alarming effects of climate change on children. It highlights that children are particularly vulnerable to the health risks of climate change, which are significant both now and in the future. According to Lüschen, children are disproportionately affected by the heat, which is considered one of the greatest health threats caused by climate change. This heat can cause serious illness and even death.

Younger children in particular are exposed to high temperatures and UV radiation. Their development and immune system make them more vulnerable to the health effects that are exacerbated by, among other things, extreme weather events such as floods. These extremes can also threaten children's mental health by causing anxiety and stress.

Health effects on children

The health risks that children are exposed to due to climate change are diverse. Children are increasingly suffering from infectious diseases that are transmitted by ticks and mosquitoes. Extreme heat has significant health impacts, with children suffering more from dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke during heat waves. The combination of air pollution and high temperatures also increases the risk of respiratory diseases, asthma and other health problems.

Another critical point is the structural preparation of schools for heat protection. The support or burden placed on children in these facilities depends not only on the competence of the caregivers, but also on the physical infrastructure. Poorly ventilated and overcrowded classrooms significantly affect children's concentration and performance.

Promoting positive solutions

While Lüschen states that the idea of ​​disasters is often paralyzing, she advocates for a focus on collective efficacy beliefs. Positive storytelling and showing utopias can help reduce fear of climate change and promote children's creative potential. In this way, the subject matter class offers opportunities to deal with the topic of climate change without diving into the fear spiral of catastrophic scenarios.

Lüschen emphasizes that children should not take on the role of “climate savers”. Rather, the responsibility lies with political and economic actors. There are also valuable resources, such as the special issue “Climate Change” from the magazine “Deutsch Differentiated”, to which Lüschen contributed.

The next lectures in the lecture series will continue to focus on the challenges that young people face. On May 27, 2025, Dr. Vera Brinkmann will speak about “Student questions as a reflection of real-life experiences”.