UNICEF report: 1.1 billion children face climate hazards

Nearly every child in the world is exposed to at least one climate-related hazard, with approximately 1.1 billion children facing three or more overlapping threats, according to a major report released by UNICEF on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. The findings highlight the disproportionate impact of climate change on children's health, development, and safety.

The report, titled the Children’s Climate Risk Report, identifies drought, extreme heat, and heatwaves as the most widespread threats. It warns that the convergence of multiple hazards, such as floods, tropical storms, and air pollution, can overwhelm local health and social services, creating a dangerous cascade of impacts. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell stated that children's lives are being upended by the intensifying effects of climate change, with half of the world's children now living with at least three overlapping climate threats shaping their daily lives.

Children are biologically more vulnerable, as their developing bodies are more susceptible to physical and psychological stress from extreme weather. The report details that over 1.5 billion children face frequent and severe heatwaves, which can lead to...