The devastating impacts of climate change are reaching unprecedented levels, with children bearing the brunt of extreme weather events. According to a new analysis by Save the Children, a staggering 400 million children have experienced school closures due to extreme weather since 2022, highlighting the urgent need for global action to address this crisis.
This year alone, approximately 300 million children across Asia, Africa, and Brazil have been affected by severe weather events, representing a staggering 12.5% of the total child population. These events have forced hundreds of millions of children to flee their homes, leaving them reliant on aid and facing the harsh reality of missing out on their education.
The impact of these extreme weather events is particularly stark in the lives of children. Kyariyam, a 12-year-old girl from northeast Nigeria, recounts the harrowing experience of her family being uprooted by floods in September. “The flood destroyed everything in our home… It washed away our clothes, school uniforms, and books,” she says. “Half our school was completely destroyed. I feel really bad that I’m no longer able to go to school. I constantly worry about how I will catch up.”
The situation is equally dire in southern Africa, where an unprecedented drought, exacerbated by human-induced climate change and the El Nino phenomenon, has ravaged the region. This drought, deemed the worst in 100 years, has left 70% of the population reliant on agriculture for survival facing acute hunger. Zinhle, a 14-year-old girl from Zimbabwe, describes the devastating impact on her family and community. “We ploughed our fields, but all the crops were burnt by the sun and we didn’t get anything from the fields. At home, we used to eat three meals a day, but now we eat two meals,” Zinhle explains. The desperation has driven some of her friends to drop out of school and seek work in mines, highlighting the devastating social and economic consequences of this crisis.
The World Meteorological Organization estimates that the number of global extreme weather events has increased five-fold in the past 50 years, emphasizing the urgent need for a robust and comprehensive response. This growing threat to children’s lives and futures underscores the importance of prioritizing their needs and voices in climate change discussions.
Save the Children is calling for children’s rights, voices, and unique vulnerabilities to be factored into the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance (NCQG) at COP29 in Baku. The organization is also urging for enhanced opportunities for children’s participation in decision-making processes that affect them. As Inger Ashing, CEO of Save the Children International, states, “This is not just a climate crisis, it’s a children’s crisis, and urgent action from world leaders is non-negotiable.”
Kyariyam’s plea for support from world leaders at COP29 echoes the hopes and fears of millions of children facing the devastating consequences of climate change. “I would ask them to help rebuild our communities and schools,” she says. “They should create proper water channels to prevent future floods. We also need support with school uniforms and books to return to learning.” The time for action is now. World leaders must listen to the voices of children and prioritize their needs in the fight against climate change to ensure a brighter future for all.
