Higher-income countries and global child health

O’Hare, Bernadette Ann-Marie; Lopez, Marisol; Hannah, Eilish; Chimowa, Takondwa; Hall, Stephen B.

doi:10.1016/j.paed.2021.12.004

Cited by 2 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…Global events, including the climate emergency, the pandemic, and ongoing warfare, are negatively impacting children’s economic and social rights (hereafter called child rights). Many of these events are people-made, and some global actors impact these more than others 1. While much of the recent international policy efforts focus on climate action, we argue that low-income and lower middle-income countries (hereafter referred to as lower-income countries) will struggle to implement these without comprehensive global economic restructuring.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…The additional pressure of the pandemic has weakened economies, decreased tax revenues and increased debt, all of which will stretch government budgets. 1 Natural disasters resulting from the climate emergency, coupled with the recent COVID-19 pandemic, have led to a deterioration in many countries' macroeconomic situation, making it more challenging to recover from climate emergencies and adapt for future emergencies. 5 8 Curtailing major leaks from government revenues, such as tax abuse and debt service, has been identified as an opportunity to free fiscal space to spend on critical services and, thus, increase the fulfilment of child rights.…”

Section: The Economic Fallout Amplifying Existing Drains On Governmen...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many of these events are people-made, and some global actors impact these more than others. 1 While much of the recent international policy efforts focus on climate action, we argue that low-income and lower middle-income countries (hereafter referred to as lower-income countries) will struggle to implement these without comprehensive global economic restructuring. This paper will discuss how the actions of higher-income countries, which drive climate change and enable leaks from government revenues through tax abuse and debt service in lower-income countries, impact child rights and suggest what the global community must do to curtail these.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While strategies to improve child well-being must be multisectoral and led by the government of each country, many have limited ability to ensure their citizens can access critical services, much less adapt those services to become resilient to the impact of the climate emergency. The additional pressure of the pandemic has weakened economies, decreased tax revenues and increased debt, all of which will stretch government budgets 1. Natural disasters resulting from the climate emergency, coupled with the recent COVID-19 pandemic, have led to a deterioration in many countries’ macroeconomic situation, making it more challenging to recover from climate emergencies and adapt for future emergencies 5 8…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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An analysis of tax abuse, debt, and climate change risk in low-income and lower-middle-income countries

Lopez

O’Hare

Hannah

et al. 2022

bmjpo

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IntroductionClimate change is exacerbating a pre-existing child rights crisis. Lower- (low- and lower-middle-) income countries have borne 99% of the disease burden from the crisis, of which children under five carry 90%. In response, much of the recent global policy efforts focus on climate action. However, unsustainable levels of debt and tax abuses are draining countries of crucial revenue to handle the crisis. Like the climate crisis, these are primarily facilitated by entities domiciled within higher- (upper-middle- and high-) income countries. This paper aims to review these revenue leaks in countries where children are at the greatest risk of climate change to identify opportunities to increase climate change resilience.MethodsWe compiled data on tax abuse, debt service and climate risk for all lower-income countries with available data to highlight the need for intervention at the global level. We used the Climate Change Risk Index (CCRI), developed by UNICEF. Additionally, we used figures for tax abuse and debt service as a percentage of government revenue.ResultsWe present data on 62 lower-income countries with data on revenue losses, of which 55 have CCRI data. Forty-two of these 62 countries (67.7%) are at high risk of lost government revenues. Forty-one (74.5%) of the 55 countries with CCRI data are at high risk of climate change. Thirty-one countries with data on both (56.4%) are at high risk of both climate change and revenue losses. Most countries at high risk of both are located in sub-Saharan Africa. This shows that countries most in need of resources lose money to arguably preventable leaks in government revenue.DiscussionHigher-income countries and global actors can adopt policies and practices to ensure that they do not contribute to human rights abuses in other countries. Highlighting the impact of a failing global economic model on children’s economic and social rights and one which increases their vulnerability to the climate emergency could help drive the transition towards a model that prioritises human rights and the environment on which we all depend.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Section: The Economic Fallout Amplifying Existing Drains On Governmen...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

An analysis of tax abuse, debt, and climate change risk in low-income and lower-middle-income countries

Lopez

O’Hare

Hannah

et al. 2022

bmjpo

Self Cite

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Impact of higher-income countries on child health in lower-income countries from a climate change perspective. A case study of the UK and Malawi

Hannah,

Etter-Phoya,

Lopez

et al. 2024

PLOS Glob Public Health

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Climate change is the number one threat to child health according to the World Health Organisation. It increases existing inequalities, and lower-income countries are disproportionately affected. This is unjust. Higher-income countries have contributed and continue to contribute more to climate change than lower-income countries. This has been recognised by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, which has ruled that states can be held responsible if their carbon emissions harm child rights both within and outside their jurisdiction. Nevertheless, there are few analyses of the bilateral relationship between higher- and lower-income countries concerning climate change. This article uses the UK and Malawi as a case study to illustrate higher-income countries’ impact on child health in lower-income countries. It aims to assist higher-income countries in developing more targeted policies. Children in Malawi can expect more food insecurity and reduced access to clean water, sanitation, and education. They will be more exposed to heat stress, droughts, floods, air pollution and life-threatening diseases, such as malaria. In 2019, 5,000 Malawian children died from air pollution (17% of under-five deaths). The UK needs to pay its ‘fair share’ of climate finance and ensure adaptation is prioritised for lower-income countries. It can advocate for more equitable and transparent allocation of climate finance to support the most vulnerable countries. Additionally, the UK can act domestically to curtail revenue losses in Malawi and other lower-income countries, which would free up resources for adaptation. In terms of mitigation, the UK must increase its nationally determined commitments by 58% to reach net zero and include overseas emissions. Land use, heating systems and renewable energy must be reviewed. It must mandate comprehensive scope three emission reporting for companies to include impacts along their value chain, and support businesses, multinational corporations, and banks to reach net zero.

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Higher-income countries and global child health

Cited by 2 publications

References 3 publications

An analysis of tax abuse, debt, and climate change risk in low-income and lower-middle-income countries

An analysis of tax abuse, debt, and climate change risk in low-income and lower-middle-income countries

Impact of higher-income countries on child health in lower-income countries from a climate change perspective. A case study of the UK and Malawi

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