Climate Change Impact on Global Education Outcomes
Recent studies reveal that climate change is severely affecting education worldwide. Extreme heat and natural disasters cause school closures and learning loss. Children in vulnerable regions face setbacks in schooling. This threatens to reverse decades of educational progress.
Effects of Extreme Heat on Schooling
Exposure to high temperatures during early life leads to fewer years of schooling. Research across 29 countries shows children exposed to temperatures two standard deviations above average lose up to 1.5 years of education. Heat reduces test scores and lowers graduation and college entrance rates. In China and Southeast Asia, these effects are particularly pronounced.
Climate-Related School Closures and Learning Loss
Extreme weather events cause frequent school closures, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Over the past 20 years, 75 per cent of such events led to school shutdowns affecting millions. Floods, storms, wildfires, and droughts disrupt education and increase dropout rates. In Brazil’s poorest areas, rising heat causes about 1 per cent learning loss annually.
Disparities and Vulnerability Among Marginalised Groups
Climate impacts on education disproportionately affect marginalised populations. Fragile and low-income countries bear the brunt of extreme weather risks. Nearly one billion children live in high climate-risk zones, mostly in fragile states. In the United States, poor infrastructure and lack of air conditioning worsen learning outcomes for African American and Hispanic students. Socially vulnerable groups also face higher asthma rates linked to air pollution.
Infrastructure Challenges and Disaster Preparedness
Many schools need updated heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems to cope with rising temperatures. Disaster events destroy school buildings and disrupt access. After the 2013 floods in Jakarta, schools served as emergency shelters and many closed temporarily. Schools with disaster management plans reported better crisis response and continuity of education.
Long-Term Educational and Social Consequences
Climate-induced educational setbacks risk undoing global gains in literacy and learning. Early exposure to heat and disasters reduces human capital development. This can widen social inequalities and hamper economic progress. Addressing climate resilience in education systems is critical to safeguard future generations.
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