UNICEF: Climate Crisis Disrupts Education for 242 Million Students in 2024

A new UNICEF report reveals extreme weather events caused widespread school closures in 85 countries, disproportionately affecting children in low-income regions.

• UNICEF's analysis highlights that extreme climate events like heatwaves, floods, and droughts disrupted education for 242 million students in 2024.
• Heatwaves were the leading cause of school closures, impacting an estimated 171 million children globally.
• Countries most affected include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Mozambique, Pakistan, and the Philippines, with South Asia being the hardest-hit region.
• Flooding in Afghanistan destroyed or damaged over 110 schools, while similar disruptions occurred in Italy and Spain, affecting nearly 1 million students in Europe.
• The report underscores the long-term risks of prolonged school closures, including increased child labor, early marriage, and gender-based violence, particularly in poorer regions.

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