Climate crisis disrupts education and rights for children in Brazil

The climate crisis is significantly impacting the rights and well-being of children in Brazil. According to UNICEF data, approximately 5 million children are exposed to the risks of climate disasters annually in the country. These environmental shifts, including floods, severe droughts, and wildfires, threaten fundamental rights to health, nutrition, and safety.

In 2024, extreme weather events such as floods and droughts interrupted the education of 1.17 million children and adolescents. In response, the União Brasileira dos Estudantes Secundaristas (UBES) has introduced the ‘Adapta+Escolas’ protocol. This student-led policy proposal aims to prepare schools for extreme temperatures and intense rainfall through five key pillars: resilient infrastructure, climate education, community training, student participation, and public funding planning.

Proposed infrastructure improvements include better ventilation, reforestation, covered courtyards, solar energy, and rainwater harvesting systems to mitigate the damage caused by extreme weather to school buildings and essential services.