New york: Nearly half of the world's children, approximately 1.1 billion, are exposed to at least three overlapping climate hazards, as revealed by a newly released UNICEF report. According to Emirates News Agency, the UN children's agency highlighted in its Children's Climate Risk Report 2026 that the most prevalent climate threats include drought, extreme heat exceeding 35°C, and heatwaves. The report further states that almost every child globally faces exposure to at least one climate hazard. UNICEF elaborated that children are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change compared to adults due to their body's heightened sensitivity. Factors such as quicker body temperature rise, less efficient sweating, faster breathing, and greater food and water needs relative to their body weight contribute to their increased vulnerability. The report evaluates children's exposure to eight climate hazards, which encompass drought, extreme heat, wildfires, heatwaves, coastal and riverine floods, sand and dust st orms, and tropical storms.
