Extreme Weather Disrupts Education for 242 Million Children Globally: UNICEF

UNITED NATIONS, Jan 24 (Alliance News): Extreme weather events disrupted the education of 242 million children across 85 countries in 2024, highlighting an “overlooked” consequence of the climate crisis, UNICEF reported Thursday.

The agency identified heat waves as the most significant disruptor, with UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell emphasizing that children are disproportionately vulnerable to extreme weather conditions.

“They heat up faster, sweat less efficiently, and cool down more slowly than adults,” Russell explained. “In sweltering classrooms, children struggle to concentrate, and flooded paths or destroyed schools prevent attendance altogether.”

Decades of unrestricted fossil fuel consumption have driven climate change, increasing the frequency and severity of heat waves, storms, and floods. Global temperatures reached record highs in 2024, with some surpassing the critical 1.5°C warming threshold.

UNICEF’s report termed the 242 million figure a “conservative estimate” due to data gaps, with South Asia seeing the worst effects. India reported 54 million children affected, primarily by heat waves, while 35 million were impacted in Bangladesh.

Heat waves disrupted schools in the Philippines, where non-air-conditioned classrooms were forced to close, exposing children to the risk of hyperthermia. In September, climatic events like Typhoon Yagi prompted school closures across 18 countries.

As global temperatures rise, UNICEF projects a sharp increase in climate hazards, predicting that by 2050, the number of children exposed to heat waves, floods, and wildfires will grow substantially.

Beyond school disruptions, these hazards risk exacerbating existing educational challenges, especially for girls, increasing dropout rates and threatening futures. With two-thirds of children already unable to read by age 10, the effects could be catastrophic, UNICEF warned.

Russell called for climate-resilient educational infrastructure, stating, “Children’s futures must be prioritized in climate policies and actions.”