Climate change impacts global school infrastructure and operations

Shifting climate patterns are creating significant challenges for educational institutions worldwide. Increasing temperatures and unpredictable weather are forcing students to adapt to persistent heat, while regions such as Southeast Asia and South America face heavy rainfall and severe flooding.

Flooding can cause immediate physical destruction to classrooms, erode roads, and overwhelm sewage systems. Even when buildings remain structurally sound, governments often repurpose schools as disaster relief centers, which interrupts learning.

Specific vulnerabilities include aging HVAC and sewage systems, as seen in locations like Calabasas High School, and disruptions caused by wildfires or power outages. These climate-related hazards, alongside infrastructure disparities, increase the frequency of school closures and make maintaining steady educational operations more difficult.