Credit: UNICEF Luxembourg
On Tuesday 15 September 2026, UNICEF Luxembourg published analysis which shows how climate-related hazards are disrupting education on a global scale and affecting children’s ability to learn, stay safe and keep up with their education, including those in Luxembourg.
According to the analysis, in 2025, at least 171 million students worldwide – around one in ten – experienced disruptions to their schooling because of climate-related hazards. Storms affected approximately 109 million students, floods at least 70 million, and heatwaves disrupted schooling for about 50 million children in at least ten countries.
In Luxembourg, 18,929 students experienced climate-related school disruptions in 2025, with heatwaves identified as the major climate hazard. The finding shows that climate-related disruption to education is not only a concern for countries facing major disasters. It can affect children’s learning closer to home as well.
UNICEF Luxembourg said the impact of climate disruption can go far beyond missed lessons, with climate hazards affecting children’s ability to learn, increase risks to their physical and mental well-being, and increase the risk of falling behind or dropping out. These effects can continue long after a disaster has passed and schools have reopened.
“Protecting education in a changing climate is not simply about keeping children in school. It is about protecting children’s development, well-being and future opportunities. It is also about helping communities become more resilient to the climate shocks ahead. Education must be part of climate resilience and emergency preparedness – in Luxembourg and around the world,” said Sandra Visscher, Executive Director, UNICEF Luxembourg.
UNICEF Luxembourg noted that the devastating floods that struck Nepal at the end of August 2026 showed how quickly a major disaster can disrupt children’s education: more than 32,000 children were affected, around 14,000 are currently experiencing disruptions to their education, at least 23 schools have been damaged and 25 schools are being used as temporary shelters for displaced families. UNICEF and its partners have dispatched education supplies to support more than 9,500 children and are preparing temporary learning centres in affected communities.
Three-quarters of the 171 million students affected by climate-related school disruptions in 2025 were in low- and lower-middle-income countries, where education systems can already face severe resource constraints.
UNICEF is calling for greater investment in climate-resilient education systems so that schools and education systems can anticipate, withstand and recover from climate shocks. This includes safer and more resilient school buildings, plans to keep learning going when schools close, teacher training, disaster preparedness and climate education.
For UNICEF Luxembourg, the findings underline the importance of putting children’s rights and education at the heart of climate action. UNICEF Luxembourg advocates for stronger disaster preparedness and climate education, while UNICEF works globally with governments, communities and partners to strengthen climate-resilient education systems.
