North Macedonia children face heat, drought and air‑pollution risks, UNICEF report says

A UNICEF 2026 global report on climate risks for children finds that almost all children in North Macedonia are exposed to multiple climate threats. About 99.9 % face harmful air‑pollution, 87 % are exposed to heatwaves and 73 % to drought. The agency says these conditions jeopardise children’s health, learning and overall development.

Leslie Miller, UNICEF representative, said: “Children in North Macedonia are growing up in a changing climate, where extreme heat, drought and air pollution are unfortunately part of daily life.” The report urges urgent climate action focused on the most vulnerable children, calling for reduced emissions, stronger health, education and social‑protection systems, and greater involvement of youth in climate decision‑making. Although the government has taken steps, gaps remain, especially for children from the poorest families. North Macedonia also hosts nine of Europe’s 17 critical PM2.5 monitoring stations, highlighting persistent air‑quality challenges.