Nearly every child globally now faces at least one major climate hazard

A landmark UNICEF report released today reveals that nearly 100% of the world’s children are now exposed to at least one climate-driven hazard like extreme heat or drought.

Even more concerning, roughly 1.1 billion children—nearly half the global population under 18—are facing three or more overlapping crises at once. In India alone, approximately 392 million children are enduring extreme heat, while those in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia bear the heaviest cumulative burden. These environmental shocks are no longer isolated events but persistent pressures that disrupt education, healthcare access, and basic survival for the most vulnerable.

UNICEF is calling for immediate strategic investments in climate-resilient services and an accelerated transition away from fossil fuels to prevent further escalation.