Climate Hazards Disrupted 1 in 10 Students in 2025

Climate hazards led to school disruptions for approximately 171 million students worldwide in 2025, impacting one in every ten students globally. This figure represents a significant portion of the student population, highlighting the pervasive influence of environmental challenges on education systems. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) released these findings, emphasizing that girls were disproportionately affected by these disruptions. The report underscores the vulnerability of educational continuity to extreme weather events and other climate-related phenomena, which can force school closures, damage infrastructure, and displace communities.

These disruptions can have long-lasting consequences for students' academic progress, mental health, and overall well-being. When schools are closed or inaccessible, students may miss crucial learning opportunities, fall behind in their studies, and face increased risks of dropping out. For girls, the impact can be even more severe, as disruptions can exacerbate existing inequalities, leading to increased burdens of domestic work, early marriage, and reduced access to essential services. UNICEF's analysis points to a growing trend where climate-related disasters are increasingly interfering with children's right to education, a fundamental aspect of their development and future prospects.

The report does not specify the exact types of climate hazards that caused these disruptions, but common events include floods, droughts, heatwaves, storms, and wildfires. These events can directly damage school buildings, disrupt transportation routes, and necessitate evacuations, all of which can lead to prolonged periods of school closure. Furthermore, the indirect impacts, such as food insecurity and health crises stemming from climate events, can also affect students' ability to attend school and learn effectively. The scale of the disruption suggests that climate change is not just an environmental issue but a critical threat to global education and child development.

UNICEF's findings serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for robust climate adaptation strategies within the education sector. This includes building climate-resilient school infrastructure, developing contingency plans for disaster preparedness, and ensuring that educational continuity is prioritized during and after climate-related emergencies. The disproportionate impact on girls also calls for targeted interventions to support their continued education, such as providing safe learning spaces and addressing the specific barriers they face in times of crisis. The global community must address these challenges to safeguard the educational futures of millions of children.