In a new report by the World Bank titled “Choosing Our Future: Education for Climate Action,” an alarming finding has emerged. From January 2022 through June 2024, more than 404 million students across the globe experienced interruptions to their education resulting from climate-induced disasters. This Disruption took place in a minimum of 81 nations, influenced by severe weather incidents, including storms, floods, and heat waves. Although Climate Change poses an increasing worldwide issue, its effects on education have often been overlooked, with little information available on the school shutdowns resulting from these events.
The challenge’s extent remains hidden from policymakers and the general population. The report highlights the growing danger that climate change presents to educational systems. Severe weather incidents, such as floods, interrupt classes, causing students to miss crucial learning opportunities. The impact is particularly severe in areas that are already facing educational difficulties. This pattern not only hinders learning but also adversely affects students’ achievements, educational progress, and future opportunities. This instance from Nigeria reflects a wider global concern.
About two million individuals were displaced by the Alau Dam overflow.
A notable instance of the crisis happened in Nigeria, where the overflow of the Alau Dam in Borno State led to devastating floods that displaced close to two million individuals from their homes. The effect of this catastrophe extended beyond mere displacement; it had significant repercussions on the educational landscape in the area. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, students in regions impacted by the floods lost 53 school days. Between July and October 2022, 1.3 million individuals in Nigeria were affected. The regions most impacted were Bayelsa, Delta, Anambra, Kogi, and Nasarawa, leading to the temporary closure of schools and depriving countless children of educational opportunities.
According to a report by the World Bank, in the last twenty years, educational institutions were shut down during at least 75 percent of climate-induced catastrophes impacting over five million individuals. As the situation worsens, the number and intensity of these educational interruptions are on the rise. Beyond the days of learning lost, school shutdowns caused by climate issues can lead to lasting effects on students’ potential income and efficiency. This issue is especially severe in low-income nations, where educational frameworks are already pressured. Without rectifying these missed learning opportunities, students in such areas may lag even more, deepening educational disparities and aggravating poverty.
Education is a crucial weapon in the fight against climate change.
These consequences are expected to create widening gaps in economic growth, both domestically and internationally. In the face of this massive crisis, the World Bank emphasizes that education is a crucial weapon in the fight against environmental change. With an Investment of under $20 per student, educational institutions can adopt strategies to mitigate learning interruptions caused by such events. This modest investment has the potential to greatly enhance the prospects for countless students confronted with the risks of climate-induced school shutdowns.
Governments should implement measures to integrate climate education into the school curriculum, enhance essential skills, and strengthen Teacher training so that the youth are equipped to tackle the issues arising from climate change. Additionally, the analysis highlights that although education can be a powerful catalyst for climate initiatives, it tends to be neglected in international climate plans. Despite its vital importance in building resilience, promoting innovation, and equipping youth for sustainable careers, little financial support for climate programs is directed toward education.
Related Article: Many displaced in the northeastern flooding
This calls for an increasing financial investment in education to greatly enhance efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Populations with higher levels of education tend to be more adaptable, resilient, and capable of creating inventive responses to the climate emergency. Learning can transform behaviours and cultivate the necessary green skills for sustainable habits. Furthermore, it can equip individuals for environmentally friendly careers, promoting Economic Development while minimizing ecological damage. Without adequate funding, the promise of education in addressing climate change will go unrealized.