A new UNICEF report reveals that extreme weather events, particularly heat waves, forced the closure of schools and disrupted the education of 242 million children in 85 countries. The study highlights the alarming impact of climate change on children's learning and warns of future risks if greenhouse gas emissions continue unabated.
A recent study conducted by the UN children's agency, UNICEF , has unveiled a stark reality: nearly one in seven students worldwide experienced disruptions to their education due to extreme weather events in the past year. Schools across 85 countries were forced to suspend classes as the escalating climate crisis unleashed its devastating impacts globally. The report highlights a critical, often overlooked aspect of the climate crisis : its profound effect on children's education.
Heat waves emerged as the most significant culprit, impacting approximately 171 million children, with a staggering 118 million affected in April alone. Countries like Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Thailand, and the Philippines bore the brunt of these scorching temperatures. The consequences of these extreme weather events were widespread, ranging from school closures and vacation schedule shifts to delayed reopenings, modified timetables, and, in some heartbreaking cases, the complete destruction of school buildings. The report paints a grim picture of the future, projecting that if greenhouse gas emissions continue on their current trajectory, eight times as many children will be exposed to heat waves in 2050 compared to 2000. The impact of extreme floods and wildfires is also expected to escalate significantly. More than three times as many children will be exposed to extreme floods, and 1.7 times more will face the dangers of wildfires.UNICEF's executive director, Catherine Russell, stressed the heightened vulnerability of children to extreme weather. 'They heat up faster, they sweat less efficiently, and cool down more slowly than adults,' she explained. 'Children cannot concentrate in classrooms that offer no respite from sweltering heat, and they cannot get to school if the path is flooded, or if schools are washed away.' Russell also warned about the long-term implications, emphasizing that climate hazards are exacerbating existing educational inequalities. 'Already, some two-thirds of children around the world cannot read with comprehension by age 10,' she stated. 'Climate hazards are exacerbating this reality. Yet it is often overlooked in policy discussions. Children's futures must be at the forefront of all climate-related plans and actions.
Environment Climate Change Climate Crisis Education Children Extreme Weather Heat Waves UNICEF School Closures Global Impact
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