Protecting childhood in a warming world: SOS India advocates for child-centered climate action

As the world grapples with rising temperatures, erratic weather patterns, and an increasing frequency of climate-induced disasters such as floods, cyclones, and droughts, it is children — especially those from vulnerable communities — who are suffering the most.

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In India, where more than 30 per cent of the population is under the age of 14, the impact of climate change on children's health, safety, and opportunities is nothing short of alarming. On the occasion of Earth Day 2025, Sumanta Kar, CEO of SOS Children's Villages India, called for urgent, child-centered climate action.

"Children living in marginalised communities are disproportionately affected by climate change,” Kar said. “Many already face the harsh realities of poverty, malnutrition, and lack of access to education and healthcare. Climate change compounds these struggles, pushing their survival and development to the brink.”

India has witnessed a surge in climate-related disasters — from floods in Assam and Bihar to cyclones along the eastern and western coasts, and droughts in Maharashtra and Rajasthan. In each case, thousands of children have been displaced, deprived of basic necessities, and exposed to hunger and disease.