118 HRES 1164 IH: Acknowledging the particular threat climate change poses to a secure and sustainable future for all children and the important stake children have in a healthy planet. U.S. House of Representatives 2024-04-20 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IV118th CONGRESS2d SessionH. RES. 1164IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESApril 20, 2024Ms. Kamlager-Dove (for herself, Ms. Titus, Mrs. Watson Coleman, and Mr. Evans) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concernedRESOLUTIONAcknowledging the particular threat climate change poses to a secure and sustainable future for all children and the important stake children have in a healthy planet.

Whereas nearly half of the world’s children live in countries at extremely high risk to at least one extreme weather event per year and will experience more floods, hurricanes, wildfires, and droughts over the course of their lifetimes than previous generations;Whereas extreme weather events, sea level rise, floods, and prolonged droughts interrupt the education of 40,000,000 children annually, especially girls and children with disabilities;Whereas 40 percent of the population of Africa and the Pacific Islands are respectively, under ages 14 and 18, and represent countries at extremely high risk for environmental or climate shocks;Whereas the countries that help vulnerable nations enhance their adaptation and resilience will gain significant influence and goodwill among the public for generations to come;Whereas 183,000,000 children globally are facing the triple threat of extreme weather events, poverty, and conflict, and climate change can be a threat multiplier, exacerbating existing insecurities, conflicts, and longstanding development challenges, putting children’s lives at risk;Whereas prolonged and frequent droughts means children who traditionally help fetch water are forced to cover longer distances, increasing their exposure to violence, early marriage, and abduction and recruitment by armed groups;Whereas girls are at heightened risk for forced labor, sex trafficking, child marriage, and other forms of gender-based violence from sudden or slow-onset climactic shocks such as prolonged droughts or hurricanes;Whereas children’s developing immune systems are more vulnerable to extreme weather than adults and thus are more likely to experience malnutrition, asthma, dehydration, stunting, and disease from environmental shocks than adults;Whereas 1,000 children under age 5 die each day from diseases associated with inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene, especially in areas with water scarcity, cyclones, and floods, and by 2040, 1 in 4 children will be living in areas of extremely high-water stress;Whereas 350,000,000 to 500,000,000 children live in informal settlements and slums where they are more susceptible to the impacts of flooding, stresses from extreme heat or cold, poor air quality, and overcrowding, and the poorest urban child is twice as likely to die before age 5;Whereas, in 2020, there were an estimated 9,800,000 new internally displaced children due to weather-related causes;Whereas changing weather patterns are disrupting stable food production, distribution, and consumption, and pushing more children and families into crisis levels of hunger and food insecurity worldwide;Whereas investments in resilient agriculture and infrastructure can save $3 to $10 in humanitarian assistance;Whereas children will be the greatest beneficiaries of and have the greatest stake in global progress toward combating climate change; and Whereas every child should have the opportunity to grow up on a healthy, thriving planet with a sustainable future: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives—(1)recognizes the unique threat that the effects of climate change pose to the futures of children and youth;(2)affirms the importance of United States global leadership in preventing the worst effects of climate change and mobilizing international cooperation to support those most vulnerable to climate shocks, including children;(3)affirms the significant United States national security and foreign policy interest in addressing climate change and creating opportunities for children and youth globally; and(4)affirms that children everywhere deserve to inherit a healthy planet without fear for the future.