Where to Start?: An Exercise in Mapping Priority Areas for Youth and Climate Change

We recently commissioned a piece of work to The GovLab at New York University’s Tandon School of Engineering to complete a topic mapping exercise on youth and climate change.  

Climate change poses a very real and serious threat to everyone, but particularly to the world’s children. Without immediate action, the effects of climate change will have serious negative consequences on the health, livelihoods, security and economic potential of people around the globe. In line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, we think it is fundamental that urgent action is taken to combat climate change and its impacts in order to protect children’s futures.  

The GovLab topic mapping exercise consisted of a review of available journals, conference programmes, reports and databases to summarise key topics, themes and questions across the direct and indirect impacts that climate change can have on children. These include issues such as mental health, food insecurity and child displacement. In addition, it also includes relevant organisations, experts, publications and events that could be useful in helping to answer these key questions.  

We hope to be able to use this tool to assist the formulation of specific climate change project questions that will produce actionable insights for children. Having valuable knowledge of the current research landscape will highlight to us where we can help to develop innovative data projects that reach these fundamental goals.  

Take a look at the final report below to find out more!