UNICEF study finds 333 Brazilian cities face high climate risk for children

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), together with Vital Strategies, released the Children and Environment Panel, a platform that evaluates exposure of children and adolescents to environmental and climate risks across all 5,571 Brazilian municipalities. Using 14 indicators grouped into air quality, urban‑environment infrastructure, extreme climate events and school environment, the study identified 333 cities—about 6% of municipalities—as having severe vulnerability. These high‑risk locations are concentrated in the North (Pará, Acre, Amazonas, Maranhão, Mato Grosso) and also affect parts of the Northeast, Southeast and South, where poor sanitation, lack of treated water and insufficient green space in schools are common.

UNICEF climate specialist Danilo Moura emphasized that “children depend on their caregivers to recognize and respond to extreme events,” underscoring the need for immediate policy action. The panel provides individual diagnostics and 50 practical recommendations to help local authorities mitigate risks and protect children's health and development.