Skip to main content

By 2050, 8 times more children likely to experience extreme heatwaves than today, warns UNICEF

By Vikas Meshram*  
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has raised alarming concerns about the effect of climate change on children's education and health through its 2024 report, Learning Interrupted: Global Snapshot of Climate-Related School Disruptions. Until now, most studies have focused on the impact of global warming on agriculture and weather patterns. 
However, for the first time, this report highlights the severe consequences of climate change on children's physical, mental, emotional, educational, and overall well-being. This revelation has worried parents, education experts, and policymakers, putting immense pressure on governments to develop and implement urgent solutions to protect children from climate-related educational disruptions.
According to the report, in 2023 alone, nearly 50 million students in India suffered from the effects of heatwaves and extreme temperatures. The climate crisis is not just an environmental issue; it deeply affects children's education, making it difficult for them to attend school, concentrate, and perform well academically. India has been identified as one of the most climate-sensitive nations, with over 242 million children across 85 countries facing school disruptions due to heavy rainfall and floods. This means that in 2024, one out of every seven school-going children worldwide will experience disruptions in their education due to climate change.
UNICEF has warned that if greenhouse gas emissions continue at the current rate, by 2050, children will be eight times more likely to experience extreme heatwaves. The threat of global warming has significantly disrupted Indian society, the environment, wildlife, and agriculture. Record-breaking temperatures have made daily life unbearable, water sources are drying up, and farmers are struggling with failed crops. In 2023, the Indian Meteorological Department predicted that 2024 would surpass all previous heat records, marking it as the hottest year since 1901.
Climate change is not just an environmental issue—it is a direct attack on children's health and education. Rising temperatures cause physical exhaustion, dehydration, and heat-related illnesses, making it difficult for children to attend school and focus on studies. Additionally, extreme heatwaves and natural disasters increase stress, anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders among children. These mental health challenges directly impact their learning ability and exam performance, creating long-term consequences for their future.
Children are naturally more vulnerable to climate-related disasters compared to adults. They have weaker immune systems and are more prone to illnesses caused by pollution, contaminated water, and extreme weather conditions. When disasters like floods, droughts, storms, and heatwaves occur, children are the least capable of protecting themselves. Many are forced into child labor, human trafficking, homelessness, and even begging, as climate change worsens poverty and economic instability.
Although climate change is a global crisis, its impact is particularly severe in India due to its large population and extreme weather conditions. The world is facing a massive challenge in controlling global warming, but little action has been taken. If nations do not reach an agreement on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, temperatures will continue to rise, leading to even more disruptions in children's education and well-being.
Governments must take immediate and effective action to protect children from climate-related disruptions. Some potential solutions include adjusting school schedules to avoid extreme heat, improving public awareness about heat-related risks, and investing in extensive research to understand how climate change affects education and health in India.
The UNICEF report is based on research from the University of Oslo, but India must conduct its own localized studies to gain more accurate insights into the problem. Notably, the report has identified India as one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change, emphasizing the urgent need for national action.
Extreme weather events in 2023 disrupted the education of millions of children worldwide, preventing them from attending school and affecting their academic performance. If this issue is not addressed immediately, children’s long-term learning outcomes and future opportunities will suffer greatly.
It is deeply concerning that wealthy and powerful nations are neglecting their responsibility in tackling climate change. While global warming is becoming a more severe crisis, many developed countries are failing to take serious action, worsening the situation. Their reluctance to reduce carbon emissions and adopt sustainable policies has made the global climate crisis even more dangerous.
The growing impact of climate change is not just a concern for India—it is a global emergency. If the world does not act now, this crisis will soon reach every home, every family, and every individual. The most tragic consequence will be the destruction of childhood itself, as children will grow up in a world full of disasters, displacement, and uncertainty.
Scientists and environmentalists have warned that global temperatures will continue to rise in the coming decades. If we fail to take decisive action now, future generations will suffer unimaginable consequences. The time to act is now—governments, organizations, and individuals must step up and implement effective climate policies to safeguard children's education, health, and future.
---
*Journalist

Comments

TRENDING

Defeat of martial law: Has the decisive moment for change come in South Korea?

By Steven Lee  Late at night on December 3, soldiers stormed into South Korea’s National Assembly in armored vehicles and combat helicopters. Assembly staff desperately blocked their assault with fire extinguishers and barricades. South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol had just declared martial law to “ eliminate ‘anti-state’ forces .”

70,000 migrants, sold on Canadian dream, face uncertain future: Canada reinvents the xenophobic wheel

By Saurav Sarkar*  Bikram Singh is running out of time on his post-study work visa in Canada. Singh is one of about 70,000 migrants who were sold on the Canadian dream of eventually making the country their home but now face an uncertain future with their work permits set to expire by December 2024. They came from places like India, China, and the Philippines, and sold their land and belongings in their home countries, took out loans, or made other enormous commitments to get themselves to Canada.

EVMs: Govt must prove beyond reasonable doubt it's upholding mandate for free, fair polls

By Jerald D’souza  With the growth of India’s population, concerns about electoral fraud associated with ballot papers, also began to escalate. In 1989, the People’s Representation Act was amended to enable EVMs to prevent electoral fraud. In 1998, EVMs made their debut during legislative assembly elections and for the first time for general elections in 2004. However, criticisms against the EVMs and questions about their integrity have been raised by political parties, civil society and the general population. On 2 February 2024, there was a noteworthy demonstration of dissent where numerous individuals, including Ambedkarite advocates, legal professionals, and other members of civil society  convened at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar demanding the prohibition of EVMs. In 2024, the Supreme court had slapped down a petition to return to paper ballots on the basis that machines give “absolutely accurate results” unless human bias maligns them. The court stated that it was open to testi...

This Indian British Marxist blamed USSR's collapse in 1991 on Khrushchev's 'revisionism'

By Harsh Thakor*  Harpal Singh Brar, British Indian Marxist scholar and communist leader, has passed away in Chandigarh. He was 85. He was a lifelong supporter of socialism, Marxism, and the working class. He will be remembered among British Communists.

Chalapathi's death in encounter suggests Maoists' inability to establish broader mass support

By Harsh Thakor* The Maoist movement experienced a significant loss during the Ramagudem encounter on January 21, with the death of Chalapathi (Pratap), a Central Committee member of the CPI (Maoist). His death, along with 15 others, marks a major setback for the movement. Reports suggest that his location was revealed to security forces through a selfie with his wife.

A groundbreaking non-violent approach: Maharishi’s invincible defense technology

By MajGen (R) Kulwant Singh, Col (R) SP Bakshi, Col (R) Jitendra Jung Karki, LtCol (R) Gunter Chassé & Dr David Leffler*  In today’s turbulent world, achieving lasting peace and ensuring national security are more urgent than ever. Traditional defense methods focus on advanced weapons, military strategies, and tactics, but a groundbreaking approach offers a new non-violent and holistic solution: Maharishi’s Invincible Defense Technology (IDT). 

Operation Kagar represents Indian state's intensified attempt to extinguish Maoism: Resistance continues

By Harsh Thakor Operation Kagar represents the Indian state's intensified attempt to extinguish Maoism, which claims to embody the struggles and aspirations of Adivasis. Criminalized by the state, the Maoists have been portrayed as a threat, with Operation Kagar deploying strategies that jeopardize their activities. This operation weaves together economic, cultural, and political motives, allegedly with drone attacks on Adivasi homes.

Why do we mostly resist and refrain from communicating on sanitation topic?

By Nikhil Kumar, Mansee Bal Bhargava* According to UN SDG Progress report (2022), at the present moment no targets for SDG 6 are expected to be met by 2030. In 2022, 2.2 billion people had no access to safe drinking water and 3.5 million lacked safe sanitation. Approximately 50% of the world’s population was reported to have been under resourced in enough water for part of the year and a quarter of that population was living under “extremely high” water stress. Add to it, droughts have affected over 1.4 billion people between 2002 and 2021.

CCG raises concerns over Indian State of Forest Report 2023 in open letter to environment minister

By A Representative  The Constitutional Conduct Group (CCG), a collective of former civil servants, has expressed serious concerns over the Indian State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023 in an open letter to the Union Minister for Environment, Forests & Climate Change. The group has criticized the report's delayed release, flawed methodology, and misleading claims regarding the state of India's forests.

अल्पसंख्यक कार्य मंत्रालय का बजट निराशाजनक: 19.3% अल्पसंख्यकों के लिए मात्र 0.0661% ठोस आवंटन

- मुजाहिद नफ़ीस*   1-2-2025 को भारत सरकार द्वारा संसद में वर्ष 2025-26 का बजट वित्त मंत्री निर्मला सीतारमण जी ने पेश किया| इस वर्ष का बजट 5065345 करोड़ है जो कि पिछले साल के संशोधित अनुमान से लगभग 7.39% की बढ़ोतरी हुई है| वहीं अल्पसंख्यक कार्य मंत्रालय का बजट मात्र 3350.00 करोड़ है जो कि कुल बजट का 0.0661% लगभग है|  पिछले साल 2024-25 में 3183.24 करोड़ था|