Girls worst hit by climate shocks on schools, says Unicef

UNICEF has reported that girls are disproportionately affected by climate-related disruptions to education. Half of the world's children, or about one billion, live in countries at high risk for climate and environmental shocks. During extreme weather events like heatwaves, storms, and wildfires, girls are more likely to drop out of school, with their education disrupted in over 171 million cases last year across 106 countries.

Girls face additional challenges when schools are damaged, classes are cancelled, or education shifts online. They often bear extra responsibilities for caregiving and water collection, which can worsen child marriage rates and make it harder for them to return to school post-disaster.

Storms were the most frequent cause of school disruption, affecting 109 million students globally last year, followed by floods impacting at least 70 million and heatwaves disrupting schooling for about 50 million. UNICEF's analysis, based on data from aid agencies and local media instead of government figures, shows a decrease from the previous year's estimate of nearly 250 million children in 85 countries affected by climate hazards.

The agency attributes this to a new methodology focusing on real-time information rather than traditional government data.

The loss of learning and resulting impacts on literacy and numeracy could lead to substantial lifetime income losses, estimated at over $200 billion, exacerbating global inequalities. Most affected children are from low- and lower-middle-income countries where educational systems are less equipped to handle climate-related emergencies. UNICEF calls for increased government funding and partnerships to build resilient educational facilities that can withstand climate and environmental threats.