The Clarios Foundation has announced a four-year, $20 million commitment in support of UNICEF’s Healthy Environments for Healthy Children program, renewing and expanding their partnership to reduce environmental hazards and create healthy environments for children. 

Effective in 2023, the partnership will work to advance progress on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and UNICEF’s global health strategy. To that end, the funds will be used to identify, address, and reduce the impact of climate change and pollution on children’s health across 14 countries. With support from foundation, the program will develop responsive primary healthcare efforts aimed at protecting children from the impact of pollution and climate change and mobilizing broader multi-sectoral action, including the involvement of young people. 

“Climate change, environmental degradation, and pollutants wreak havoc on children’s development, health, and well-being, threatening their survival,” said UNICEF executive director Catherine Russell. “This renewed commitment is critical in helping us expand on our work to address childhood lead poisoning and help prevent and treat other forms of toxicant poisoning among children.”

(Photo credit: UNICEF/Karel Prinsloo)