Half of the world's children are exposed to three climate threats

BarcelonaAlmost all children in the world face at least one climate threat. But nearly half – about 1.1 billion children – are exposed to three different climate threats that put their health and survival at risk, according to the report Children’s climate risk report 2026, published this Tuesday by Unicef.

The most frequent climate threats are coastal flooding, droughts, extreme heat, fires, heatwaves, river flooding, sand and dust storms, and tropical storms. The most widespread combination is drought, with extreme heat and heatwaves, affecting more than 296 million children. Another 115 million children suffer the triple threat of drought, extreme heat, and tropical storms.

The report also details the places where childhood is most threatened by the climate crisis, such as the 4 million children in the African Sahel who face heatwaves, extreme heat, and sand and dust storms. But it is in Asia where childhood is exposed to more simultaneous climate threats and greater intensity, the report assures, especially in countries like Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Pakistan.

But Europe is not spared. The report also analyzes the situation in Spain, where it calculates that 54% of the child population, about 4.1 million children, is exposed to at least three combined climate risks, and the two most widespread are extreme heat (affecting about 6 million children) and drought (affecting 4.2 million).

Air pollution

In addition to the eight most frequent climate threats, the Unicef report also analyzes how childhood is exposed to air pollution. This problem affects about 6.4 million children in Spain, the organization says. According to the study, air pollution affects almost all children in the world. Another impact that is a consequence of the climate crisis is the increase in malaria: about 1,000 million children in the world are exposed to this disease.

The report makes concrete recommendations to governments to stop these threats against the health, education, and survival of the youngest. It asks them to reduce emissions and comply with climate commitments by progressively eliminating fossil fuels. It also calls for more climate adaptation measures focused on child protection. "This analysis can help governments and decision-makers better plan and invest more effectively in resilient services," says Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director. The report recalls that if carbon emissions are not reduced, these threats will become increasingly frequent and severe, putting strain on public systems and administrative budgets.