Climate-related disasters are increasing the risks of child marriage, unintended pregnancy and violence among girls while disrupting their access to education and essential health services, a new global study by Plan International has found.
The report, "State of the World’s Girls 2026: Change Her Forecast", draws on research involving more than 5,000 girls and young women aged 15 to 24 in Bangladesh, Kenya, Peru, Senegal and Zimbabwe, alongside an analysis of climate and health data from 52 low- and middle-income countries spanning three decades.
The findings show that climate shocks such as floods, droughts, cyclones and extreme heat are putting additional pressure on families and communities and disrupting the systems girls depend on for their health, safety and education.
Nine in 10 girls surveyed said climate-related events were placing serious pressure on their families’ survival, health and stability.
Meanwhile, 76% said girls and young women in their communities were struggling to access at least one sexual or reproductive health service following climate-related events.
The study found that 36% of girls had seen more girls marry or enter unions before the age of 18 in their communities following climate-related disasters, while 33% reported seeing an increase in unintended pregnancies.
Another 28% observed an increase in violence against women and girls following climate-related events.
The disruption extends to menstrual health. Half of the girls surveyed said girls and young women in their communities were struggling to access menstrual products or clean water needed to manage menstruation.
The report also highlights how climate shocks can make sexual and reproductive healthcare harder to reach, including contraception, maternity care, menstrual health support, counselling and other essential services.
In Bangladesh, 19-year-old Shahina, who participated in the research, described how climate-related economic hardship can contribute to early marriage.
She said: “When floods leave people completely destitute, families think about financial hardship and marry off girls at a very young age.”
According to the report, girls also face increased risks of sexual exploitation after climate-related disasters when protection systems and support networks break down. Some girls reported being pressured to exchange sex for money or basic necessities.
Emergency shelters can also become unsafe, with girls reporting harassment and sexual violence in overcrowded and poorly lit conditions.
The research identifies education as one of the strongest protective factors for girls during climate crises.
Girls whose education is disrupted are twice as likely to marry young or experience an unintended pregnancy, according to the report.
Schools provide girls with education as well as access to information about their rights, health and available services, while also providing support networks that can help protect them from exploitation and early marriage.
The report also highlights the particular risks associated with prolonged drought.
An analysis covering 52 countries over three decades found prolonged drought to be the climate hazard most consistently associated with increasing rates of child marriage and early unions.
As drought destroys crops, livestock and household income over time, families facing financial hardship may resort to marrying off their daughters, the report said.
Reena Ghelani, chief executive officer of Plan International, said: “Girls cannot continue to be treated as an afterthought in climate action. They must have a meaningful say in the decisions that shape their lives, and their rights and needs must be built into climate policy and financing from the outset.”
Ghelani also said climate change was already affecting girls’ education and access to health services.
She added: “Only half of national climate plans mention girls’ or women’s health, and despite the escalating impact of climate shocks on the health systems and services girls rely on, just 0.5% of multilateral climate finance supports health.”
The report calls on governments and donors to keep schools open and free during climate shocks and allocate a defined share of climate adaptation finance to adolescent girls’ health, including sexual and reproductive health services, contraception and maternity care.
It also recommends that menstrual products, contraception and protection services be included in emergency response packages from the beginning rather than being treated as later interventions.
Plan International further called for targeted support for girls from minority communities, girls with disabilities and those already displaced, who face greater barriers to accessing essential services.
The organisation urged governments and donors to put girls at the centre of climate policy, financing and disaster response, arguing that their experiences and leadership should help shape decisions affecting their lives.
The report comes ahead of COP31, where countries are expected to negotiate further international action on climate change.