The state of the world’s children 2024: The future childhood in a changing world

This report examines three transformative global megatrends that will profoundly impact children's lives by 2050: demographic shifts, climate and environmental crises, and frontier technologies. It highlights crucial leverage points that governments, the private sector, civil society, and all stakeholders can use to address challenges and seize opportunities for children. The climate crisis is already dire, with 2023 being the hottest year on record. According to the report, in the decade of 2050-2059, climate and environmental crises are expected to become even more widespread, with eight times as many children exposed to extreme heatwaves, three times as many exposed to extreme river floods, and nearly twice as many exposed to extreme wildfires, compared to the 2000s.

The report underscores the importance of centering child rights, as outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, in all strategies, policies and actions. It calls for meeting the challenges and opportunities posed by the three megatrends by:

• Investing in education, services, and sustainable and resilient cities for children.
• Expanding climate resilience in infrastructure, technology, essential services and social support systems.
• Delivering connectivity and safe technology design for all children.