India ranks 26th out of 163 countries in UNICEF’s Children's Climate Risk Index, underscoring its high vulnerability to climate change impacts
GUWAHATI: Indian children have become increasingly vulnerable to environmental stressors like heatwaves and air pollution, which are adversely impacting their health, school attendance, and learning outcomes.
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This was revealed in a recent report released by the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), stating that 54.8 million children in India were affected by heatwaves in 2024 alone.
Extreme weather events, such as floods, landslides, and cyclones, have further compounded the challenges. “Fast-onset hazards such as flooding, landslides, and cyclones have repeatedly caused destruction to schools, while environmental stressors like extreme heat and air pollution are harming children's health and hindering their learning outcomes,” the report stated.
India ranks 26th out of 163 countries in UNICEF’s Children's Climate Risk Index, underscoring its high vulnerability to climate change impacts. The report highlighted the growing frequency and intensity of heatwaves and natural disasters, which disrupt children’s education and pose serious health risks, often leading to prolonged school absences.
In response, UNICEF has stated that it is collaborating with the Indian government to address these challenges through climate change education and disaster preparedness initiatives. Climate change elements have been integrated into the National Curriculum Framework, shaping state curricula, textbooks, and teaching methodologies to raise awareness and resilience among students.
Additionally, UNICEF is supporting the implementation of Comprehensive School Safety Programmes (CSSP) across 12 states. These programmes have been implemented to create safe learning environments while empowering children as agents of change in tackling climate-related issues.
As of 2024, over 121,000 educators have been trained to teach climate resilience and safety under this initiative.
Relatably, global heatwaves were identified as the most significant climate hazard in 2024, affecting 171 million students worldwide.
