GUWAHATI: The Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) and ICLEI South Asia organised a workshop on November 28, 2023 in Guwahati to unveil the findings of two groundbreaking studies focusing on the vulnerability of young children, caregivers, and pregnant women to climate change.
The studies, conducted in partnership with Ipsos Research, IITs (Gandhinagar, Kharagpur, and Roorkee), and JNU, received funding support from the Bernard van Leer Foundation (BvLF).
The workshop, attended by 50 participants representing various sectors, including government officials, urban planners, child development practitioners, policymakers, and representatives from NGOs and Civil Society Organisations, aimed to disseminate the results of the studies and initiate discussions on their implications.
The first study delves into the "Impact of Climate Change," while the second study focuses on the "Usage of Public Spaces" concerning young children (birth to 5 years), caregivers, and pregnant women. Data for the studies were collected from 18 Indian cities, offering valuable insights into the challenges faced by these vulnerable groups.
Key findings from the study on public spaces revealed that nearly 60 per cent of children primarily utilise neighbourhood streets for accessing public spaces, citing issues related to accessibility, availability, safety, and comfort of use. Parks and playgrounds, however, witness lower usage due to concerns about accessibility and safety. City officials acknowledged that the predominant focus in India has been on developing public spaces for teenagers, overlooking the specific needs of children below 5 years.
The climate change study highlighted the heightened vulnerability of young children and pregnant women to climate-related impacts such as heatwaves, flooding, and air pollution. Household surveys conducted in a slum area, where 30 per cent of the population comprises children under 5, underscored parents' concerns about the adverse effects of climate change on their children.
Despite these concerns, climate action initiatives lack a specific focus on these vulnerable groups, revealing a significant gap in policy integration.
Both studies provided specific recommendations, emphasising the importance of policy integration, identification of funding sources, planning and design improvements, infrastructure enhancements, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, and community engagement.