NEWS: UNICEF’s Children’s Climate Risk Report 2026 àHighlights the growing impact of climate change on children worldwide, with India among the most vulnerable countries.

ABOUT THE REPORT

• Published by United Nations Children's Fund.
• Assesses children's exposure to multiple climate and environmental hazards and their impact on health, nutrition, education, and well-being.
• Highlights climate change as a major child-rights challenge.

KEY GLOBAL FINDINGS

• Nearly 1.1 billion children face at least three overlapping climate hazards.
• More than 4 million children are exposed to six climate hazards
• Drought is the most widespread threat, affecting 1.8 billion children globally.
• Around two-thirds of children face increasingly severe heatwaves.
• 2 billion children are exposed to extreme heat conditions.
• Over 1 billion children face increased malaria risk due to expanding mosquito habitats.
• By 2050, climate change could push: 40 million children into stunting, 28 million children into wasting.
• Only 2.4% of global climate finance is directed toward child-responsive infrastructure and services.

INDIA-SPECIFIC FINDINGS

• 97% of Indian children (411.62 million) face at least two climate or disaster-related hazards.
• 55% of children are exposed to three or more simultaneous climate hazards.
• Drought is the most widespread threat, affecting over 96% of children.
• Climate hazards disrupted schooling for 54.78 million students in 2024.
• Heatwaves were the leading cause of educational disruption.

SIGNIFICANCE

• Highlights children as one of the most vulnerable groups to climate change.
• Calls for child-centric climate adaptation and resilience strategies.
• Emphasizes resilient schools, healthcare systems, nutrition programmes, and social protection measures.