Climate hazards threaten 1.1 billion children

Nearly half of the world’s children – around 1.1 billion – are exposed to at least three overlapping climate hazards, while almost every child faces at least one, according to a new UNICEF report

Children are more vulnerable to climate change than adults because their bodies are more sensitive

CHILDREN’S EXPOSURE TO MULTIPLE CLIMATE HAZARDS

2.3 billion: Exposed to at least one hazard

2 billion
At least two hazards

1.1 billion
At least three hazards

364 million
At least four hazards

53 million
At least five hazards

4 million
At least six hazards

EXPOSED TO CLIMATE HAZARDS
Droughts
Heatwaves
Extreme heat
Tropical storms
Riverine floods
Severe fires
Sand storms
Coastal floods
1.8bn
1.5bn
1.2bn
662m
337m
206m
123m
33m

CLIMATE-SENSITIVE HAZARDS
Pollution
Malaria
2.3bn
1bn

COUNTRIES WHERE CHILDREN ARE EXPOSED TO MULTIPLE HAZARDS

Multi-hazard
score
Very low
Low
Medium
High
Very high
No data
0-1.9
1.9-3.4
3.4-4.8
4.8-6.8
6.8-10

Source: UNICEF Children’s Climate Risk Report
Picture: Getty Images
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