UNICEF Reports Climate Change Impact: 242 Million Children Miss School Due to Extreme Weather

A UNICEF report reveals that in 2024, 242 million children were unable to attend school due to extreme weather, with a significant impact on low-income countries. Heatwaves were the leading cause of interruptions, while funding and infrastructural support for education are critical to addressing these challenges.

According to a recent report from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), an alarming 242 million children across 85 countries experienced school disruptions due to extreme weather conditions last year, including heatwaves, cyclones, and floods. This represents approximately one in seven school-age children globally being unable to attend classes at some point during 2024 because of climate-related challenges.

The report highlights the devastating impact of extreme weather on education systems, particularly in lower-income countries within Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Several regions faced severe disruption, with Italy’s torrential rains and flooding impacting over 900,000 children and Spain experiencing similar educational interruptions due to catastrophic flooding.

UNICEF emphasized that heatwaves were the leading climate threat affecting education last year, coinciding with an unprecedented global temperature rise. In April alone, over 118 million children faced interruptions in their schooling due to intense heatwaves in Middle Eastern and Asian countries, leading to dangerously high temperatures.

Catherine Russell, UNICEF’s executive director, noted the heightened vulnerability of children to weather-related crises. She stated, “Children’s bodies are uniquely vulnerable. They heat up faster, they sweat less efficiently, and cool down more slowly than adults.”

Among the affected children, approximately 74% resided in middle- to low-income nations, indicating that the poorest communities bear the brunt of climatic extremes. For instance, flooding in Pakistan ruined more than 400 schools, and severe heatwaves coupled with flooding in Afghanistan destroyed over 110 schools.

The situation remains precarious. Poor territories, like Mayotte, faced severe destruction from Cyclone Chido, further challenging educational access for children. Cyclone Chido also devastated Mozambique, demolishing over 330 schools and exacerbating educational access issues in regions already struggling.

UNICEF concluded that education systems worldwide are substantially unprepared to handle the repercussions of extreme weather, emphasizing the need for improvement in these critical infrastructures.

The ongoing climate crisis poses significant threats to global education, especially for children in vulnerable regions. Extreme weather patterns such as heatwaves, cyclones, and flooding not only interrupt schooling but also destroy educational facilities, making it challenging for children to access learning opportunities. The report by UNICEF sheds light on how climate change disproportionately affects children in low-income countries, necessitating urgent attention and solutions to protect their education.

In summary, the UNICEF report reveals that almost 250 million children had their education disrupted due to extreme weather conditions last year, underscoring the urgent need for global action to address the impact of climate change on education. With a significant percentage of affected children in impoverished regions, it is clear that the consequences of climate extremes are far-reaching and demand immediate efforts to improve educational resilience.

Original Source: www.pbs.org