Klimawandel – ein Gesundheitsthema (auch) für Familien und ihre jungen Kinder?

Children can only grow up healthy on a healthy planet. Climate change threatens their health through rising temperatures and extreme weather events. In Germany, average temperatures have risen, leading to more frequent and intense heatwaves. This development particularly endangers children, whose thermoregulation is not yet fully developed. UV exposure increases the risk of skin cancer and eye damage. Extreme weather also negatively impacts children's mental health.Childcare, educational, and recreational facilities play a key role in managing the psychological and physical burdens of climate change. Resilient systems and facilities can promote stability and resilience and have a preventive effect. However, the adaptation of children's personal living context to climate change is still inadequate. It is essential to enhance the climate competence of those responsible in these environments through practical informational materials that enable them to not only be aware but also to actively establish protective measures. Health insurance companies can also play a crucial role in prevention by advising and supporting climate-friendly and health-promoting activities.Health promotion in environments with children has great potential to encourage climate-protective and climate-adaptive behavior and to establish it long term among children and families. Bringing about the necessary changes requires cross-sector collaboration between institutions, providers, authorities, health insurance companies, and civil society as well as between federal, state, and local governments.