UNICEF reported that nearly 250 million children missed school last year due to extreme weather, including heatwaves, cyclones, and floods. One in seven school-going children experienced interruptions in their education across 85 countries. Low-income nations were the hardest hit, but significant disruptions also occurred in regions like Europe. Urgent action is needed to address the inadequacies in global educational systems to cope with climate impacts.
In a report released by UNICEF, it was revealed that nearly 250 million children globally missed school last year due to severe weather events such as heatwaves, cyclones, and floods. The report indicated that this number corresponds to one in seven school-aged children worldwide experiencing interruptions in their education in 2024 due to climate-related hazards.
Countries with limited resources, particularly in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, faced the brunt of these disruptions, including the destruction of numerous schools. Southern Europe, however, also experienced significant extreme weather, with Italy’s torrential rains and floods affecting over 900,000 children and Spain witnessing similar devastating flooding.
UNICEF identified heatwaves as the primary climate hazard affecting schools last year, coinciding with 2024 being recorded as the hottest year globally. In April alone, significant heat waves impacted over 118 million children in regions from the Middle East to Southeast Asia, where temperatures soared above 40 degrees Celsius.
Catherine Russell, UNICEF’s Executive Director, emphasized the heightened vulnerability of children to these climate crises, noting their physiological differences compared to adults. The report highlights the dire situation where children cannot focus in sweltering classrooms or reach school due to flooding and other disasters.
Approximately 74% of affected children resided in low- and middle-income countries, illustrating the severe repercussions of climatic extremes on impoverished regions. For instance, significant flooding in Pakistan damaged over 400 schools, while Afghanistan suffered from heat followed by destructive flooding that obliterated more than 110 schools.
The ongoing drought conditions in Southern Africa, exacerbated by the El Niño weather pattern, threaten the educational prospects of millions. Additionally, recent storms have devastated the French territory of Mayotte, resulting in extended school closures due to destruction from Cyclone Chido and Tropical Storm Dikeledi.
UNICEF posits that current global education systems are inadequately prepared to cope with the repercussions of extreme weather, necessitating urgent attention to fortify schools against these increasingly common climate challenges.
The report by UNICEF sheds light on the alarming impact of climate change on education, revealing that extreme weather conditions have caused widespread school absences for children globally. This trend particularly affects vulnerable populations in low- and middle-income countries, where resources for education and disaster recovery are often scarce. The findings underscore a growing need for global action to mitigate climate-related disruptions in education systems, emphasizing the physiological vulnerabilities of children during such crises, and highlighting variations in educational impacts across regions.
In conclusion, UNICEF’s report reveals the critical intersection of climate change and education, with extreme weather causing unprecedented disruptions for millions of children worldwide. The findings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to protect vulnerable populations, particularly in low-income regions, and enhance the resilience of educational infrastructures to withstand climate-related challenges. As the frequency of these challenges increases, targeted investments and proactive measures are essential to ensure that education remains accessible for all children, regardless of climate conditions.
Original Source: www.wral.com
