UNDP's 'Weather Kids' campaign shakes up global audience with future forecasts to spur climate action
In an innovative move to combat climate change, global television viewers were treated to an unusual weather forecast today - predictions from the year 2050, presented by children.
This initiative is part of the "Weather Kids" campaign, organized by the United Nations Development Programme in collaboration with the World Meteorological Organization， or WMO and The Weather Channel, the flagship consumer brand of The Weather Company. The campaign aims to boost awareness of the impacts of climate change and to mobilize people around the world to take meaningful climate action for future generations.
As a member of WMO, the China Meteorological Administration answered the call and produced five localized weather reports, partnering with UNDP China to contribute to this campaign. Five children aged 7-9 were invited to give their weather forecasts from the year 2050, tailored to China's context.
Reporting on extreme weather, sea level rise, drought, floods, and other disasters, the reports describe how such events triggered food crises, biodiversity loss, energy crises, and other consequences. Through their reporting, the five young TV meteorologists call on adults to "stop wasting time and quickly solve the problems".
"With a population of nearly 300 million under the age of 18, climate change and its impact on young people is a critical issue here in China. This campaign is a much-needed wake-up call – in order to safeguard the world for future generations, urgent actions must be taken now, before it is too late," stated Beate Trankmann, UNDP Resident Representative in China.
Zeng Qin, an official with the China Meteorological Administration, said, "Climate change has had far-reaching impacts globally. We must urgently take action to address climate change. Led by the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, we have been providing scientific and technological support and services to address climate change, and we are actively participating in global climate governance."
The campaign not only highlights the potential future but also offers practical solutions for mitigating climate change, such as adopting electric vehicles, enhancing climate news coverage, and utilizing renewable energy sources.
"The Weather Kids add a powerful voice to alert us to a future that will certainly materialize if we do not take meaningful climate action today," said Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator. "Continued inertia on climate change will lead to an increasingly uninhabitable planet for the 'kids of today' and future generations. We can only course-correct if we move at speed and scale now. "
