Nearly half of the world’s children are at risk from multiple climate-related disasters

Extreme heat, drought, wildfires, floods, storms. For millions of children, these are no longer exceptional events, but risks that accumulate and intertwine, jeopardizing their health, education, and quality of life.

According to UNICEF’s new Children’s Climate Risk Report 2026, approximately 1.1 billion children worldwide (nearly one in two) are currently exposed to at least three climate-related hazards simultaneously. This figure clearly shows that the climate crisis is no longer a future threat, but a reality that is already shaping childhood on a global scale.

For the first time, the report analyzes the overlap of eight major climate risks: drought, extreme heat, heat waves, wildfires, coastal and riverine flooding, tropical storms, and sand and dust storms. The result is alarming: nearly all of the world’s children are exposed to at least one of these phenomena, while more than 364 million of them face at least four simultaneous climate threats.

Globally, the most common combination is drought, extreme heat, and heat waves. More than 296 million children live in areas where these three phenomena occur simultaneously, jeopardizing food security, access to water, and health.

According to UNICEF, the consequences go far beyond the discomfort caused by high temperatures. Drought reduces the availability of food and water, extreme heat increases the risk of heatstroke and dehydration, while extreme weather events disrupt schooling, destroy infrastructure, and contribute to the spread of infectious diseases.

In Italy, more than 6 million children are at risk

The climate crisis does not affect only the poorest or most vulnerable countries. Italy is also among the countries where children are increasingly exposed to environmental risks. Data show that more than 6 million Italian children live in areas affected simultaneously by drought and prolonged heat waves.

In total, 92.9% of children in Italy are exposed to at least one climate-related hazard, while nearly 10% face at least three combined risks.

Among the most widespread threats are heat waves, which affect more than 82% of Italian children, and drought, which affects approximately 73% of children. Another particularly concerning finding relates to air pollution: 91.98% of children are exposed to high levels of PM2.5 fine particulate matter, one of the leading environmental causes of respiratory and cardiovascular problems.

Adults and children: different consequences

The report notes that children do not experience the effects of the climate crisis in the same way as adults. Their bodies are more sensitive to high temperatures, pollution, and water shortages. Furthermore, the loss of access to education, health care, and social protection during extreme events can have lifelong consequences.

In 2024 alone, at least 242 million students worldwide had their education interrupted by extreme weather events. Between 2016 and 2023, more than 62 million children were forced to leave their homes due to climate-related disasters.

In short, the UNICEF report sends a clear message: protecting children means making schools, hospitals, water systems, and social services more resilient, but also accelerating the reduction of emissions and the phase-out of fossil fuels. Because the climate crisis is not just an environmental issue—it is a matter of public health, social justice, and children’s rights.