Safeguarding future generations: a One Health perspective on children, climate change, and infectious threats

The One Health approach recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, offering a critical framework for addressing complex global health challenges. Children occupy a uniquely vulnerable position within this paradigm due to their physiological immaturity, developmental sensitivity, behavioral exposures, and dependence on surrounding ecosystems. This narrative review examines how major contemporary threats-antimicrobial resistance (AMR), climate change, and emerging infectious diseases-intersect to shape child health outcomes within a One Health perspective. We synthesize evidence from human, animal, and environmental health domains to illustrate how children are disproportionately exposed to resistant pathogens, climate-sensitive hazards, and zoonotic and vector-borne infections. Particular attention is given to pediatric and neonatal AMR, climate-related impacts on physical and mental health, and the expanding geographic range of vector-borne diseases affecting children. The review highlights how factors such as antibiotic use in humans and animals, environmental contamination, urbanization, biodiversity loss, and extreme weather events converge to amplify risks during critical developmental windows. We identify major gaps in child-specific surveillance, integrated research, and policy implementation, especially in low- and middle-income countries. We argue that embedding a child-centered lens within One Health research, governance, and interventions is essential to protect current and future generations. Advancing such an integrated approach can enhance prevention, strengthen health system resilience, and promote equity in an era of escalating ecological and infectious threats.