A Panel of Experts Discusses the Impact of Climate Change on Childhood Development
A panel of four early childhood health experts came together at a Harvard Graduate School of Education forum to address the effect of climate change on childhood development. The discussion, titled “A Healthy Childhood in a Changing Climate,” aimed to propose solutions to mitigate the impact of climate change on children’s health and development. Former First Daughter Chelsea V. Clinton, currently the vice chair of the Clinton Foundation, moderated the event.
Recognizing the Urgency of Responding to a Changing Climate
HGSE Dean Bridget Terry Long emphasized the need for urgent action in response to a changing climate. She highlighted various imminent risks to the social and academic development of children, including wildfires, extreme heat, air pollution, and flooding. Long emphasized that the challenges of climate change are already here and not just a future concern.
Accountability and Responsibility
In her remarks, Clinton urged adults to take accountability for climate change instead of shifting the burden onto the next generation. She emphasized the importance of letting children be children, playing outside and having a sense of wonder. She expressed disappointment in failing to provide this for youth climate activists.
Consequences for Children’s Health
Lindsey C. Burghardt, chief science officer at Harvard’s Center for the Developing Child, discussed the detrimental impact of climate change on children’s health, particularly those with conditions such as asthma or allergies. She shared her personal experience as a pediatrician and mother, recounting how increasing temperatures affected her son’s ability to focus in a hot classroom.
Prioritizing Human Health
Gaurab Basu, director of education and policy at the Harvard School of Public Health’s Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment emphasized the need to prioritize human health. He advocated for infrastructure improvements, such as heat pumps and green playgrounds, to alleviate climate distress in schools. Extreme heat can negatively affect children’s mental health, behavioral regulation, sleep patterns, and reproductive health.
Behavioral Concerns and Inequities
Leah Austin, the president and CEO of the National Black Child Development Institute, highlighted the behavioral concerns resulting from climate change. Poorly ventilated classrooms and extreme heat can lead to increased irritability or aggression in students, which in turn can result in suspension, expulsion, and setbacks in academic experiences. Austin emphasized the underlying discrepancies and inequities faced by Black children in these situations.
A Childlike Sense of Wonder
Junlei Li, a Senior Lecturer at HGSE, advocated for addressing climate change with a childlike “sense of wonder” about the world. He emphasized the importance of caring for children through actions inspired not just by the sense of risk, but also by curiosity and wonder. Li called for policymakers to provide more support to families, educators, and care providers.
Combatting Climate Change
Basu acknowledged that the impact of climate change can be disorienting but reassured that humanity is equipped to combat its effects. He stated that the necessary tools and knowledge for addressing climate change have been available for some time and emphasized the importance of having these conversations earlier.
Empowering Adults in the Middle
Li emphasized the need for policymakers to provide more support to families, educators, and care providers. Skipping over the adults in the middle, who play a crucial role in children’s lives, would undermine any lasting impact on children’s well-being.
A Call to Action
Clinton closed the discussion with a call to action, urging people to take their children along when voting. She emphasized the importance of helping children understand the connection between their concerns, such as climate change, education, and health, and the choices made through voting.
—Staff writer Katie B. Tian can be reached at [email protected].