Extreme weather events in 2024 have severely disrupted the education of approximately 242 million children across 85 countries, according to a recent report by UNICEF. This figure represents about one in seven students globally, highlighting a significant aggravation of the ongoing global learning crisis.
The report, titled Learning Interrupted: Global Snapshot of Climate-Related School Disruptions in 2024, emphasizes that 74% of affected students come from lower-middle-income countries.
Key Findings from the Report
- Heat Waves as Major Disruptors: Heat waves were identified as the most impactful climate hazard, affecting over 171 million children, with 118 million affected in April alone. Countries like Bangladesh and the Philippines faced widespread school closures due to extreme temperatures.
- Regional Impact: South Asia was notably the hardest-hit region, with 128 million students affected. India had the largest number of impacted children, totaling 54 million, primarily due to heat waves. Other countries significantly affected included Bangladesh (35 million) and various nations in East Asia and the Pacific.
- Long-term Consequences: The disruptions not only threaten immediate educational outcomes but also pose risks for long-term educational attainment, particularly for vulnerable groups such as girls. UNICEF warns that if current trends continue, future climate scenarios could expose eight times as many children to heat waves by 2050 compared to 2000.
UNICEF’s executive director, Catherine Russell, stressed that education is frequently overlooked in climate policy discussions despite its critical role in preparing children for climate adaptation. The report calls for urgent action from world leaders and the private sector to prioritize educational resilience in national climate plans and invest in climate-smart learning facilities.
This situation underscores the urgent need for global attention and action to mitigate the impacts of climate change on education systems worldwide.