UNICEF releases its Children’s Climate Risk Report warning that climate risks affect children worldwide on multiple fronts. The report says nearly every child globally is exposed to at least one climate-related hazard. It also finds that about half of the world’s children—roughly 1.1 billion—face at least three overlapping climate threats at the same time.
Across the report’s findings, drought, extreme heat and heatwaves are identified as the most prevalent hazards endangering millions of children. UNICEF bases its assessment on cross-referenced data mapping where children live against the geographic distribution of eight common climate impacts, including coastal flooding, river flooding, drought, tropical storms, heat waves, extreme heat, wildfires and sandstorms.
The report highlights that the combined risks and their impacts are not evenly distributed, with some regions more affected than others. It notes that additional large concentrations of children exposed to three or more hazards include countries such as Nigeria, Pakistan and India, underscoring a disproportionate burden in highly vulnerable areas.
