In a coastal village in southwestern Bangladesh, schools remain closed for weeks after a cyclone. On the country's northern river islands, families displaced by erosion are forced to move, disrupting their children's education. In the haor wetlands, many children cannot reach school during the monsoon without boats. Even in Dhaka, extreme heat and hazardous air pollution are making it harder for children to study, play, and grow in a healthy environment.
These are no longer isolated incidents. Across Bangladesh, climate change is increasingly shaping childhood.
Although Bangladesh contributes less than one percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, its children are among the world's most vulnerable to climate-related hazards. Climate change is affecting every aspect of their lives from health, education and nutrition to safety, mental well-being and long-term development.
According to UNICEF's Children's Climate Risk Report 2026, nearly 59 million (about six crore) children in Bangladesh are exposed to at least one major climate hazard. Even more concerning, around 53 million face three or more overlapping climate risks, placing Bangladesh among the countries with the highest cumulative climate threats to children.
The report assessed children's exposure across 160 countries using a composite climate risk index. Bangladesh scored 9.38 out of 10, ranking as the fourth most climate-risk-affected country for children, after Myanmar, Pakistan and Vietnam.
Rather than a single recurring disaster, the report says Bangladesh's vulnerability stems from the combined impacts of floods, cyclones, droughts, heatwaves and air pollution throughout the year.
Bangladesh received the maximum 10 out of 10 score for river flooding risk, the highest in the world. More than half of the country's children live in flood-prone areas, with an estimated 32 million directly exposed to river flooding. Around 22 million are vulnerable to cyclones, nearly 60 million are affected by drought and air pollution, and more than 24 million face the combined risks of floods, cyclones and droughts.
Globally, around 337 million children are exposed to river flooding, with Bangladesh accounting for a significant share. UNICEF also estimates that 1.8 billion children worldwide are affected by drought, more than 1.2 billion by extreme heat, 662 million by tropical cyclones, and 33 million by coastal flooding. Nearly 80 percent of these vulnerable children live in just ten countries, including Bangladesh.
Multiple crises, one childhood
Experts say climate change can no longer be viewed as a series of isolated disasters. Before communities recover from one emergency, another often strikes.
A child may endure flooding during the monsoon, extreme heat in summer, cyclones along the coast and drought in other seasons. UNICEF identifies these overlapping risks as one of the greatest threats facing Bangladeshi children because they simultaneously disrupt healthcare, nutrition, education, safe drinking water, sanitation, social protection and mental well-being.
The risks are also unevenly distributed. Coastal districts, erosion-prone char areas, haor regions, hill tracts and waterlogged urban settlements face different but equally severe climate challenges. In many areas, repeated disasters leave little time for recovery, forcing children to miss school, suffer malnutrition, lose access to clean water and struggle to obtain basic healthcare.
Experts believe that one national strategy cannot address the needs of every region. They stress that Bangladesh needs location-specific climate adaptation plans that reflect the unique challenges faced by different communities.
Although Bangladesh contributes less than one percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, its children are among those suffering the greatest consequences. UNICEF warns that without child-focused climate adaptation, millions of Bangladeshi children will face even greater threats to their health, education, and future over the coming decade.
Bangladesh is internationally recognized for its progress in climate adaptation through early warning systems, cyclone shelters, coastal embankments, and social protection programs.
However, experts question whether these efforts sufficiently address children's specific needs. Climate-resilient schools, child-friendly shelters, mental health services, nutrition programs, and dedicated child-focused climate financing remain limited.
Child rights advocates warn that the greatest damage often begins after disasters end. Floods and cyclones interrupt education, worsen malnutrition, spread waterborne diseases, reduce safe spaces for children and increase the risks of child labour and child marriage among vulnerable families.
Health experts identify the shortage of safe drinking water after floods and cyclones as one of the most pressing concerns. Contaminated water increases cases of diarrhoea, skin diseases, respiratory infections and other illnesses, particularly among children under five.
Climate-related income losses also make it harder for families to afford nutritious food, increasing the risks of malnutrition and stunting. Disruptions to food production further threaten children's nutritional security.
UNICEF therefore recommends placing healthcare, nutrition, safe water and sanitation at the centre of climate adaptation alongside disaster preparedness.
Education under threat
Climate change is also disrupting education across Bangladesh.
Every year, schools close because of floods, cyclones or other extreme weather events. Many are converted into emergency shelters, while others become inaccessible due to damaged roads or flooding.
Experts warn that prolonged closures disproportionately affect children from poorer families, many of whom never return to school.
Professor Dr Humayun Kabir of the Department of Geography and Environment at the University of Dhaka said: "Bangladesh's geographical diversity requires region-specific education and climate adaptation strategies. A single approach cannot address the different challenges children face across the country.
In the haor areas, floating schools can help ensure education continues during prolonged flooding. In the hill tracts, residential schools may be a more practical solution for children living in remote communities.
Coastal regions need climate-resilient schools capable of withstanding cyclones and tidal surges, while child-friendly cyclone shelters should be developed to address children's specific needs during emergencies. Adaptation plans must reflect local realities if we are to effectively protect children from the growing impacts of climate change."
Rising social risks
Climate disasters often trigger economic hardship that creates additional risks for children.
When floods destroy crops or river erosion wipes out farmland, families lose their livelihoods. Boys are more likely to enter child labour, while girls face increased risks of child marriage.
Safina Anjum, Cluster Head of Communications and Partnerships at JAAGO Foundation, said: "Climate disasters bring not only immediate destruction but also long-term harm to children's education, safety and development. Many children are forced to leave school, while financial hardship pushes boys into child labour and girls into early marriage. Children living in emergency shelters are also at greater risk of exploitation, violence and abuse. These impacts continue long after disasters end. Child protection must therefore be integrated into every stage of disaster preparedness, emergency response and recovery, ensuring that children's rights, safety, and well-being remain a priority throughout the entire process.”
Financing children, not just infrastructure
UNICEF notes that although Bangladesh receives international recognition for climate action, child-focused climate financing remains limited.
Most climate funding is directed towards infrastructure, agriculture and disaster management, while comparatively little is invested in children's health, education, nutrition, safe water, sanitation and social protection.
The organisation calls for greater investment in programmes that directly benefit children.
Experts argue that climate adaptation must extend beyond embankments and cyclone shelters to include climate-resilient schools, child-friendly shelters, safe water systems, nutrition support, post-disaster mental health services and specialised assistance for children with disabilities.
Urban children also face growing risks. Heatwaves, worsening air pollution and frequent waterlogging in cities such as Dhaka are increasing respiratory illnesses while reducing opportunities for healthy childhood development.
Rising temperatures, limited playgrounds, and worsening air quality are increasing the risk of respiratory diseases and reducing opportunities for healthy childhood development. Experts recommend expanding green spaces, shaded public areas, and climate-resilient educational facilities as part of urban planning.
According to UNICEF, Bangladesh must make its National Adaptation Plan (NAP), healthcare system, education sector, water and sanitation services, and social protection programs climate-resilient while placing children's needs at the center. The organization also emphasizes that children and young people should be meaningfully involved in climate policymaking and decision-making processes.
Md Abdur Razzak, administrative assistant at the Integrated Child Rehabilitation Centre, said: "The government recognises women and children as among the groups most vulnerable to climate change. Our current efforts focus on protecting children and older people from environmental health risks by reducing pollution and ensuring a healthier environment. We also view climate action not only as an environmental responsibility but also as an essential part of the country's economic development strategy."
Investing in children's future
UNICEF recommends three priorities: rapidly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, placing children at the centre of climate adaptation and disaster preparedness, and ensuring meaningful participation of children and young people in climate policymaking.
Experts say climate adaptation should no longer be viewed solely as infrastructure development but as an investment in the country's future.
When children lose access to education because of flooding, suffer illness during heatwaves, become malnourished or are pushed into child labour or child marriage after disasters, the consequences extend far beyond individual lives. They also undermine Bangladesh's future human capital, economic growth and long-term development.
Children have contributed the least to climate change, yet they continue to bear its heaviest burden. Without child-centred planning, adequate financing and effective implementation, experts warn, Bangladesh will struggle to protect its youngest generation from an escalating climate crisis.
