Climate shocks disproportionately affect girls' education, warns UN agency

Girls in climate-affected areas bear a disproportionate burden when families experience economic shocks, the UN agency warned, highlighting a critical intersection between environmental crisis and gender inequality. As household incomes decline due to climate-related disruptions, girls are increasingly pulled away from classrooms to assume additional domestic responsibilities.

The burden manifests in multiple ways, with girls taking on expanded caregiving duties for younger siblings and elderly relatives, as well as time-consuming tasks such as water collection when supplies become scarce. These expanded responsibilities severely limit their ability to attend school regularly, undermining their educational prospects and long-term economic opportunities.

The economic pressure on families creates conditions that leave girls vulnerable to further harm. With education interrupted and employment prospects limited, many girls face heightened risk of child marriage as families seek to reduce household expenses or secure alliances for survival. The pattern reflects how climate shocks amplify existing gender vulnerabilities in developing regions.

The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions that address both climate adaptation and gender equity. Policymakers are urged to consider girls' specific vulnerabilities when designing climate resilience programmes, ensuring that adaptation efforts do not inadvertently worsen existing inequalities or push families toward harmful coping strategies.