UNICEF warns 58 million children in Latin America face multiple climate hazards

A UNICEF report released in 2026 finds that about 58 million children and adolescents in Latin America and the Caribbean – roughly one in three minors in the region – are exposed to at least three simultaneous climate hazards, such as heatwaves, droughts and tropical storms. The agency says the combination of heat, drought and extreme heat is the most common, affecting 40 million children, while another 40 million face the risk of tropical cyclones. UNICEF notes that these hazards disrupt schooling, threaten health and deepen poverty, especially in the Caribbean where virtually all children are vulnerable to storms.

Globally, the same study estimates that 1.1 billion children – nearly half of all youths – confront three or more climate threats. The report links climate‑related air pollution and malaria risk to child health and urges governments to cut emissions, reinforce water, sanitation and health services, and invest in child‑centered disaster‑resilient systems. "Children bear the heaviest burden of climate hazards," said Roberto Benes, UNICEF’s regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean.