Publication: Children’s climate risk report 2026

This report reveals how children’s exposure to multiple, overlapping climate hazards, inherent physical vulnerabilities, and the gaps in the social services they rely on, undermines their rights and increases their risk of harm. While the climate crisis is a global phenomenon, its effects aren’t felt equally. Without identifying who the most vulnerable children are, where they live and how they are affected by climate-related impacts, it’s nearly impossible to develop practical and effective solutions for adaptation and disaster risk reduction.

This report is an important milestone in understanding how climate-related hazards are affecting children. Through new data from the UNICEF Global Child Hazard Database, we can now see where children are exposed to a variety of hazards in unprecedented detail. Combined with data on existing social service access and capacities, governments can map where children are most at risk to climate-related shocks and stresses.The report uses the latest available data to map children’s exposure to the most frequent climate-related threats. For the first time, the report reveals exactly where – and how intensely – multiple and overlapping climate threats are threatening children and overwhelming essential social services. It also notes how governments can take concrete actions to respond.