The Impact of Climate Change on Education – News

Record-breaking heat last month that prompted governments in Asia to close schools offers fresh evidence of how climate change is threatening the education of millions of children. The arrival of seasonal rains has now brought relief to some parts of the region, but experts warn the broader problem remains, and many countries are poorly prepared to handle the impacts of climate change on schooling.

Asia is warming faster than the global average, and climate change is producing more frequent, longer, and more intense heatwaves. But heat is not the only challenge. A warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, which can result in heavy rains and flooding. This can damage schools or put them out of commission while they are used as shelters.

Hot weather can also drive wildfires and spikes in air pollution, causing school closures from India to Australia. “The climate crisis is already a reality for children in East Asia and Pacific,” warned the UN children’s agency UNICEF. Students like Mohua Akter Nur in Bangladesh are feeling the impact firsthand, with school closures leaving them without proper study conditions.

Closing schools comes with serious consequences, particularly for children from poorer, vulnerable communities who do not have access to resources. Climate change also indirectly threatens schooling, as seen in Myanmar where crop shortages caused by rising temperatures led families to pull children from school.

While some countries have taken steps to protect children’s education in the face of climate change, developing countries need help to invest in upgrading infrastructure. The real solution lies in tackling the root cause: climate change. It’s crucial for governments and policymakers to wake up to this child crisis and take action to protect the most vulnerable.