UNICEF reports nearly half of global children face three climate hazards

UNICEF’s Children’s Climate Risk Report finds that almost one‑billion children – about 1.1 billion, or nearly half of the world’s 2.4 billion children – are exposed to at least three overlapping climate dangers. The most frequent combination is drought, extreme heat and heat‑waves, affecting 296 million children, with the largest numbers in Nigeria (74 million), Pakistan (34 million) and India (32 million).

Overall, 2.3 billion children face at least one climate risk, 2 billion face two, and 364 million face four or more. The report highlights “hot‑spot” regions in sub‑Saharan Africa, South Asia and small island states. In Chad, more than 95 % of children are threatened by three or more risks. UNICEF executive director Kathrin Rasel warned that “children are on the front line of climate change” and called for urgent action to protect the most vulnerable.

The agency urges governments to use the data to improve preparedness and address the growing vulnerability of children to climate‑related disasters.