Unicef report highlights climate risks for children

A new report from UNICEF, titled 'Children’s Climate Risk Report 2026', warns that approximately 1.1 billion children worldwide are exposed to at least three overlapping climate hazards. These hazards include coastal flooding, riverine floods, droughts, extreme heat, heatwaves, wildfires, tropical storms, and dust storms. The report identifies that almost every child on Earth faces at least one climate threat, with 1.8 billion at risk from droughts and 1.2 billion from extreme heat. The most common combination of threats is drought, extreme heat, and heatwaves, affecting over 296 million children. Additionally, the report considers indirect impacts, such as exposure to malaria and disruptions to schooling, noting that 242 million children saw their education interrupted by climate events in 2024. Regions such as the Sahel, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Somalia, and Madagascar are noted for experiencing the most intense, concurrent threats. UNICEF urges governments to increase investments in infrastructure, disaster management, and social services to protect vulnerable populations. The agency emphasizes that the frequency of such overlapping hazards has grown significantly over the past two decades.