health
Half of world’s children exposed to at least three climate hazards, Unicef says
Almost every child, including those from high-income countries, is now exposed to at least one hazard
TL;DR
- Half of the world's children face at least three overlapping climate hazards.
- Over one billion children globally are exposed to at least three major climate threats simultaneously.
- The report analyzes exposure to eight climate hazards: coastal floods, droughts, extreme heat, fires, heatwaves, river floods, sand and dust storms, and tropical storms.
- Children in the Sahel region and countries like Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Pakistan are among the hardest hit.
- High-income countries, such as Italy, also show significant child exposure to climate hazards like heatwaves and drought.
- Unicef calls for reduced emissions and improved climate adaptation, prioritizing children's services and infrastructure.
- The loss of a bridge in Papua New Guinea due to heavy rains exemplifies the challenges children face in accessing education safely.