Nearly half of the world’s children now exposed to at least three climate hazards

A new UNICEF report has revealed the growing scale of the climate crisis facing children, warning that nearly half of the world’s children, around 1.1 billion, are now exposed to at least three overlapping climate hazards, including drought, extreme heat, heatwaves, floods and storms. The report, Children’s Climate Risk Report 2026, found that almost every child globally faces at least one climate-related threat, with some experiencing as many as six. Drought, extreme heat and heatwaves emerged as the most common combination of risks, affecting nearly 300 million children, while regions such as the African Sahel and parts of South Asia were identified as among the most severely impacted. UNICEF warns that these overlapping climate threats are increasingly disrupting children’s health, education and safety, while placing additional strain on essential services and infrastructure. The organisation is calling on governments and businesses to accelerate efforts to reduce emissions and invest in climate-resilient schools, healthcare systems and community infrastructure designed with children’s needs in mind. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said the findings should serve as a wake-up call for decision-makers, arguing that protecting children from today’s climate impacts is essential to safeguarding their future wellbeing and opportunities. Read more here.