Dear Matrika,Thank you for addressing the important concerns and concerns shared by so many children and youth in Nepal. In particular, as we celebrate World Children's Day (November 20), we take seriously your views on how climate change is affecting children's lives, including education and health.

On this special day dedicated to promoting children's voices and rights everywhere around the world, your letter reminds us why it is so important to listen to children and young people and act to secure their future. The Government of Nepal and UNICEF and our partners are committed to addressing key challenges to ensure Nepal's children are healthy, safe and climate resilient.

Children and youth like you in Nepal are at the center of the climate crisis. Nepal ranks 51st out of 163 countries in UNICEF's Children's Climate Vulnerability Index. This demonstrates that children are at high risk of climate-related hazards. Being exposed to this risk hinders their education, undermines their health and nutrition.

s lead to compromises in the safe environment necessary for their growth and development. The cumulative effects of these climate perturbations begin in early child development and continue through adolescence and beyond, causing lifelong failure and jeopardizing the future of an entire generation.

These impacts of climate change are deeply interconnected. Each influence amplifies the others and creates complex challenges for children. Climate change pressures, such as displacement caused by floods or economic stress from crop destruction, disrupt schooling and health services. In addition to pushing families towards unpleasant choices like child labor and child marriage, it can also increase the risk of exploitation and abuse among children. Therefore, the climate crisis is fundamentally a child rights crisis. So over the last few months we've been consulting with children and young people like you.

because they want to contribute to climate-related actions and policies, including the third phase of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC-3). Their voices are strong and clear. We must work with them now to ensure a sustainable future. Children and youth have also demonstrated their strengths in advocating for effective solutions and promoting environmentally sustainable lifestyles by setting examples for their communities, countries and the world.

The climate crisis continues to create serious economic impacts. In particular, if we fail to invest in children and the social sector, these effects will continue to be felt. Without adequate mitigation measures today, tomorrow Nepal may have to face a loss of 2.2 percent of the GDP annually.

The cost of its adaptation is likely to be millions of US dollars. Investments in climate action pay off. UNICEF estimates that every US$1 invested in climate adaptation today will generate economic benefits equivalent to US$10 tomorrow.

Therefore, we urgently need to invest in climate-resilient social services. Prioritizing services that children and youth depend on, such as health and nutrition, water and sanitation, and education and security, is one of the best investments we can make. At the same time, we need to equip children and youth with climate education and green skills, engaging them as climate defenders.