UNICEF: 118 million children in India, 4 nations hit by April heatwaves

In 2024, climate change caused huge disruptions to schools around the world, with heatwaves being the most significant problem. According to a report by UNICEF, at least one in seven students had their schooling affected by climate-related events. This includes heatwaves, floods, and other extreme weather events, which made it difficult for many children to attend school or learn properly.

Globally, about 171 million students were impacted by heatwaves, which were the biggest climate hazard that disrupted schooling. In April 2024, the situation was especially bad. Heatwaves affected at least 118 million children in five countries—India, Bangladesh, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Thailand.

In India alone, 54.7 million students were affected by these heatwaves in 2024. The extreme heat became the leading climate hazard that caused the most school disruptions. UNICEF pointed out that India is very vulnerable to climate change. India ranks 26th out of 163 countries in the UNICEF Children's Climate Risk Index (2021). This means that the country faces significant risks from climate events like floods, landslides, cyclones, and intense heat. These events not only damage schools but also harm children’s health, which makes it hard for them to attend school or do well in their studies.

UNICEF has been working with the Indian government to address these issues. The government has included climate change topics in the National Curriculum Framework (NCF), which is designed to help students learn about climate change and how to protect themselves. UNICEF is also helping implement a program called the Comprehensive School Safety Program (CSSP) in 12 Indian states. This program focuses on making schools safer from climate risks and empowering students to become active participants in addressing climate change.

UNICEF’s report highlighted other important facts about how extreme climate events are impacting children’s education. In total, 242 million students worldwide faced school disruptions because of climate hazards in 2024. Of these, 74% were in low- and middle-income countries, which are often the most affected by climate change.
The report also found that 85 countries experienced school disruptions due to climate-related events in 2024, with 23 of them having multiple rounds of school closures. At least 20 countries had nationwide school closures because of extreme weather, including heatwaves, tropical cyclones, storms, and floods.

South Asia was the hardest-hit region, with 128 million students affected by school disruptions. East Asia and the Pacific followed with 50 million students impacted. September was the month with the highest number of climate-related school disruptions, with at least 18 countries suspending classes. In East Asia, the powerful Typhoon Yagi affected 16 million children.

Africa, where over 107 million children are already out of school, was also heavily impacted. Climate-related events last year made the situation worse, putting an additional 20 million children at risk of dropping out of school.

Overall, UNICEF’s findings show how serious the impact of climate change is on children’s education. It is a reminder of the urgent need to protect schools and students from the growing effects of climate change.

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