Children are our future: Children, Climate Change, Social Equity & Security The big issues as we face our future

1. Children are our future:Children, Climate Change, Social Equity & SecurityThe big issues as we face our future Dr Cindy Kiro New Zealand’s Children’s Commissioner National Funders Forum Te Papa 2007

2. An Inconvenient Truth

3. www.enviroschools.co.nz

4. “… all the people who caused oil depletion, climate change and ecological destruction aren't going to be around to deal with the effects… So all the problems are going to be burdened on the youth. We're the ones who are going to have to find new ways of surviving after peak oil, and during climate chaos.” Young Member of Just Focus Global Education Centre

5. Another inconvenient truth… The Gross Domestic Product counts building prisons and ambulances to clear our highways of carnage… Yet it does not allow for the health of our children, the quality of their education, or the joy of their play… It measures neither our wit nor our courage; neither our wisdom nor our learning; neither our compassion nor our devotion … it measures everything, in short, except that which makes life worthwhile.” Robert Kennedy, cited in David Piachaud, 2001. Child poverty, opportunities and quality of life. The Political Quarterly

6. And closer to home…. Health and Safety of children: Overview Innocenti Report Card, 7 Feb 2007

7. Source: Data summarised by Dr Nikki Turner from Fig 44,The Living Standards Report, MSD 2004

8. Estimated annual per capita Vote:Health expenditure on health and disability support services, 2001/02 Ministry of Health, 2003 New Zealand Health and Disability Sector overview

9. Source: Pedro Carneiro and James Heckman (2003) Herald graphic 23.05.03

10. Thinking short and long-term… “…by and large civil servants and politicians don’t do 2050… They are of course understandably at the moment focused on the next 6 months because that’s a much more pressing timeframe, for all sorts of more obvious political reasons. Even so, casting out to 2050 is massively complex for people to undertake. The good thing I suppose is that you don’t really find anybody who disagrees with the statement that we have to do this process, this transition. We have to move towards more sustainable and inclusive societies.” Jonathan Porritt, Chair of the UK Government Sustainability Commission (2006). Observations on public service and political efforts to meet their goal to reduce greenhouse gas omissions by 60% by 2050.

11. “What maltreated children most need is a healthy community to buffer the pain, distress and loss caused by their earlier trauma. What works to heal them is anything that increases the number and quality of a child’s relationships. What helps is consistent, patient and repetitive loving care.” Professor Bruce Perry, 2006

12. Components of a Societal Strategy for Children Outcome definition, measurement and reporting Adequate income Effective parenting Supportive communities • Families • Neighbourhoods • Communities • Employers • Local Govt • National Govt • Agencies Improved Child Outcomes Enabling conditions Goals for children Policy goals and instruments Adapted from Graham Vimpani (2003) ‘Service networks to improve child health and wellbeing: Responding to the “new morbidity”’

13. FOCUS ON ME http://gallery.hd.org