The recent record-breaking heatwave across Asia has shed light on the significant challenges that schools in the region face due to climate change. Governments have been forced to close schools temporarily in response to extreme heat, signaling a broader problem that many countries are ill-prepared to confront.
Asia is experiencing faster warming than the global average, leading to more frequent and intense heatwaves. However, heat is just one aspect of the challenge posed by climate change. A warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, resulting in heavy rains and flooding that can damage schools or render them unusable as shelters during emergencies.
Moreover, hot weather can contribute to wildfires and spikes in air pollution, prompting school closures from India to Australia. UNICEF has warned that the climate crisis is already a harsh reality for children in East Asia and the Pacific, with many experiencing unbearable conditions like Mohua Akter Nur, a 13-year-old in Bangladesh, who struggles to study in sweltering heat without reliable electricity.
The impact of climate change disproportionately affects the poorest communities. In Bangladesh, overcrowded urban schools lack proper ventilation, while rural classrooms with metal roofs become unbearably hot. Many children in these areas walk long distances to school, risking heatstroke.
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Closing schools due to extreme heat has serious consequences, especially for children from vulnerable backgrounds who lack access to essential resources like computers, the internet, or books. They may also face increased risks of child labor, child marriage, and trafficking when schools shut down.
Climate change also indirectly affects schooling by causing crop shortages that force families to withdraw children from school to work or due to financial strain. While some developed countries like Japan have invested in air conditioning for schools to combat heatwaves, not all impacts can be mitigated, as seen in Australia’s experience with wildfires.
The solution to this crisis lies in tackling the root cause: climate change. Developing countries urgently need support to upgrade school infrastructure and adapt to the changing climate. Governments and policymakers must prioritize climate action to safeguard the education and future of children.
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It’s imperative for adults and leaders to recognize that the climate crisis is a child crisis. While adults are responsible for causing this crisis, it is children who bear its brunt. Urgent action is needed to mitigate the impact of climate change on education and ensure a safer and more sustainable future for all.
