Effects of early life exposure to climate shocks on education outcomes

This policy brief examines how exposure to climate shocks in early life has distinct and often persistent effects on educational outcomes and implications for life-time earnings. Human-induced climate change is driving more frequent and intense extreme weather events — and the consequences stretch far beyond the environment. With global temperatures on track to reach 2.7°C above pre-industrial levels within the next century, far exceeding the 1.5°C target, climate change represents a profound intergenerational threat to human development.

Education is one of our most powerful tools for building resilience. It equips individuals with the skills and knowledge to increase their productivity and earning potential, strengthens adaptive capacity in the face of climate-related events, and shapes the consumption patterns and policy decisions that determine our collective response to the climate crisis. Communities with stronger education outcomes are better placed to weather the shocks that a changing climate will bring. Key messages include:

• In utero and post-natal exposure to climate hazards impacts learning outcomes and education attainment.
• Socioeconomic vulnerabilities such as income and seasonal dependencies increase the likelihood of negative foetal and post-natal health impacts, as well as long-term learning and earning potential.
• Children can recover from climate shocks experienced in early developmental stages. Investing in maternal health, early childhood care and household capacity to adapt to climate shocks is key to resilience.