The Children’s Climate Risk Report 2026

Climate hazards have always occurred naturally, but human-induced global warming is changing much of the world as we know it.

Children are disproportionately affected by the consequences of these changes, as their developing bodies make it harder for them to cope with physical and psychological stresses. With climate shocks on the rise, more children are also facing displacement and instability, increasing their vulnerability.

But 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.

UNICEF’s Children’s Climate Risk Report 2026 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.