In the context of examining progress made since the 1990 World Summit for Children and the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, this book provides an overview of key environmental risks to children's health and the underlying causes.
Highlighted are children's special vulnerability and susceptibility to environmental threats at each developmental stage, during pregnancy, infancy and early childhood, through to school age and adolescence. Specific environmental threats of major importance to children are described, including lack of safe water and sanitation, chemical pollution and radiation, indoor and outdoor air pollution and natural resource degradation.
The book also addresses the impacts of global environmental problems on children and future generations, including climate change, desertification, deforestation and the loss of biodiversity. A series of recommendations are proposed for action at the local, national, regional and international levels to improve children's environmental health.