Children and Heat Waves: UNESCO Warns Education Loss
UNESCO cautions that youngsters subjected to severe heat could forfeit up to 1.5 years of schooling, undoing years of educational advancement.
Extreme heat imperils education.
Heat waves, floods, wildfires, and rising sea levels have been shuttering schools, most notably in low- and middle-income countries
Climate change strikes at education.
The GEM and MECCE studies recorded that schools closed in 75% of extreme weather incidents, impacting millions of children.
Findings from the UNESCO Global Report
Studies from 29 nations reveal that experiencing above-average temperatures in early life translates into reduced schooling.
Exposure to elevated heat diminishes learning.
In China, hot days hurt test scores and graduation rates. In the US, 1°C hotter school years without AC reduced scores by 1%.
Findings for China and the United States
Elevated temperatures, inadequate infrastructure, and acclimated school buildings placed African American, Hispanic, and low-income students at greatest risk.
Effect on Marginalised Groups
Across Brazil’s hottest regions, students lost around 1% of their learning each year, underscoring the extreme impact of escalating temperatures.
Learning Loss in Brazil
Across half of US public school districts, the heating, ventilation, and cooling systems require revamping or upgrading..
Educational institutions Are Ill-Equipped to Handle Climate Stress
Twenty-nine out of the 33 nations with the highest child climate risk are fragile states whose education systems are already weakened.
Extreme Weather in Fragile Nations
Floods and cyclones have claimed the lives of students and teachers, wrecked schools, and compelled buildings to serve as emergency shelters.