How Extreme Weather is Disrupting Education: Climate and Environment Updates You Need to Know

The climate crisis is not a future problem; it’s affecting us right now. We see it in extreme weather events like stronger hurricanes, wildfires, rising seas, and sweltering heat waves. These changes are damaging our communities and challenging how we live.

The bright side? We know what we can do to combat these issues. Yet, figuring out the right steps can feel overwhelming with the constant flow of updates, studies, and decisions about our planet’s future.

To help with this, the ABC News Climate and Weather Unit is here to provide clear information. We focus on what you need to know to protect your family and your home from climate risks. Our goal is to offer straightforward facts and insights about the current climate landscape and what lies ahead.

Extreme Weather is Disrupting Education

According to a recent UNICEF report, nearly 250 million kids around the world faced interruptions in their education in 2024 due to extreme weather events. This situation adds to what UNICEF describes as a “learning crisis.”

The study revealed that at least 242 million students across 85 countries had their schooling affected by weather related events such as heat waves, storms, floods, and droughts. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell noted that children are particularly vulnerable to these crises, with one in every seven students missing school last year. This disruption not only endangers their health but also their education.

Extreme heat was the most significant factor leading to missed school days. In April alone, over 118 million students were impacted by soaring temperatures, mostly in South Asia. Moreover, September saw the highest number of weather-related school closures, as regions experienced severe events like Typhoon Yagi in East Asia.

While low-income countries suffered the most, no area was immune to these impacts. Russell pointed out that education often gets overlooked in climate discussions, even though it’s essential for teaching kids how to adapt to climate changes. It’s crucial that we prioritize children’s educational needs in climate action plans.

Funding Climate Goals After U.S. Withdrawal from Paris Agreement

According to Simon Stiell, United Nations climate change executive secretary, private funding is key to helping countries fulfill their responsibilities for a safer, low-emission future.

This isn’t the first time Trump has pulled the U.S. from this agreement. In his previous term, he claimed it would cost jobs and trillions in losses. However, clean energy jobs have actually been growing faster than other jobs in the economy. In fact, the U.S. has committed billions, not trillions, to climate efforts.

Michael Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies, reiterated his commitment to supporting states and cities in cutting greenhouse gas emissions significantly by 2035. He noted that more Americans are facing the reality of climate disasters, while also reaping the benefits of a clean energy economy.

With public determination to take on climate challenges, it’s clear that there’s a shared goal of protecting our communities and the planet.