How Climate Change is Affecting Education
By: Jack Dong
As climate change continues to worsen, society will have to face the challenges of rising temperatures and sea levels, extreme weather events, and loss of biodiversity. However, another key area of impact to highlight is the effect climate change has on our education system both in the United States and around the world. Students globally are facing disruptions in their education which affects their performance in the classroom and in their future.
Extreme Weather Events Results in Less Instructional Time
In recent years, natural disasters, such as floods, wildfires, hurricanes, and heatwaves, have become more frequent and stronger. For example, in 2023, there were more than 80 wildfires in Greece that burned over 432,000 acres, and in Chile, over 21,000 people died from floods that destroyed houses, infrastructure, and crops (Kogut).These natural disasters reduce students ability to go to school as many schools are located in disaster prone areas and many schools lack the resources to withstand these natural disasters. In low-income and developing nations, storms and heatwaves are common, which force schools to close as they wait for assistance or conditions to clear. For instance, in 2024, more than 2.2 million students in South Sudan were forced to stay out of the classroom as temperatures soared over 113℉ (Jenkins and Beardmore). Yet, students in developing nations aren’t the only ones who are affected. In 2018, the Camp Fire affected more than 1,500 schools, resulting in over 3,000 school days lost of instruction time (Chen).
Natural disasters have harmed communities all around us | Image by European Commission
Although these natural disasters may not always affect school infrastructure, there are other indirect consequences affecting instructional time. In developing countries where infrastructure is poor, floods can make roads impassable which may take weeks for the water to reside. Furthermore, in rural areas, if there are prolonged droughts or floods that destroy crops, children may be forced to enter the workforce to find another source of income for their family, forcing them out of school. Additionally, disruptions in water supply may disproportionately affect female students as it is often their job to collect water in underdeveloped regions. Ultimately, the less time that students are in the classroom, the more they fall behind compared to their peers.
Lower Test Scores Due to Unbearable Conditions
Although natural disasters may not affect all students, or force students out of school, the effects of climate change are still felt. Particularly, rising temperatures have been found to have a negative correlation with test scores. This is particularly challenging for students in Southeast Asia and Africa where their schools have the least resources and infrastructure to combat rising temperatures. For example, 78% of surveyed students in South Asia claimed that heat waves have negatively affected their ability to concentrate in class (Jenkins and Beardmore). However, many may assume schools in developed nations don’t face these same problems but in reality, many schools lack the necessary cooling infrastructure as well. According to a study in the US, adolescents’ math scores decreased significantly on days above 78℉ (Zivin, et al). Warmer temperatures reduce students' ability to focus in class which ultimately results in lower test scores.
Climate Change is Only Furthering the Education Gap
Climate change isn’t just affecting the students today, but also is threatening the fight for equal education for all. Vulnerable communities, particularly in low-income and developing nations, do not have the necessary resources to adapt to the challenges of climate change. This results in many students dropping out of school to help their family or not being able to go to school. Children from low-income communities all over the world, both in developed and developing nations are at risk the most. In the United States, districts that served a high proportion of low income students, students of color, or students with disabilities faced the greatest risk to education from natural disasters (Chen). This is detrimental to students' education and success as these school districts are already behind in terms of test scores compared to their peers from predominantly wealthy and white schools.
Climate change is pushing young students out of the classroom | Image by Kakoli Dey
Moreover, climate change affects poor and underdeveloped nations the most, particularly in Africa and Southeast Asia, where students already receive far less instruction than peers from wealthier nations. In the Philippines, some families lack the financial resources to rebuild from natural disasters such as typhoons, causing poor children to drop out of school (Chen). Consequently, a lack of education only perpetuates this cycle of poverty and makes it nearly impossible for these families and children to ever improve their economic situation. Once again, the poor suffer the most from the actions of the rich.
What Can Be Done?
Empowering the youth is crucial in bringing awareness and change | Image by Bianca De Marchi
The impact of climate change on education is undeniable. From the destruction of schools and the health risks posed to students, to the indirect effects of displacement and inequality, the consequences of a warming world are being felt in classrooms across the world. Thus, the time to act is now. To ensure that education remains a pathway out of poverty and a tool for advancing society, governments, organizations, and local communities must invest in climate-resilient schools. Furthermore, incorporating climate education into school curriculums is helpful in drawing awareness to the problem at hand and adapting to the impacts of climate change. Additionally, society must address the root causes of inequality to ensure that all children can access a quality education. Lastly, climate change is real, and the future of our children and the planet lies in our hands, whether we like it or not.
References
Chen, Brendan, and Amalie Zinn. “What Climate Change Means for Schools and Students.” Housing Matters, 18 Oct. 2023, housingmatters.urban.org/articles/what-climate-change-means-schools-and-students#:~:text=Heat%20waves%2C%20which%20can%20have,are%20also%20concerns%20for%20schools. Accessed 11 Nov. 2024.
“The Climate Crisis Disrupts 40 Million Children’s Education Every Year. Here’s How We Could Fix It.” World Economic Forum, 14 Feb. 2023, www.weforum.org/stories/2023/02/girls-education-climate-crisis-educational-disruption-resilience/. Accessed 11 Nov. 2024.
Jenkins, Robert, and Sarah Beardmore. “Too Hot to Learn: The Impact of Climate Change on Education.” Global Partnership for Education, 5 June 2024, www.globalpartnership.org/blog/too-hot-learn-impact-climate-change-education. Accessed 11 Nov. 2024.
Kogut, Peter. “Natural Disasters 2023: Worst Tragedies & Promising Solutions.” EOS Data Analytics, 16 May 2024, eos.com/blog/natural-disasters-2023/. Accessed 11 Nov. 2024.
Prentice, Caitlin, et al. “How Climate Change Is Badly Affecting Children’s Education.” Alliance for Science, 8 Apr. 2024, allianceforscience.org/blog/2024/04/how-climate-change-is-badly-affecting-childrens-education/. Accessed 11 Nov. 2024.
Zivin, Joshua S., et al. Temperature and Human Capital in the Short- and Long-Run, May 2015, doi:10.3386/w21157.
