Children are facing growing threats from climate change, with extreme weather and environmental stress placing additional pressure on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) systems. A UNICEF report highlighted by UN-Water shows that children’s exposure to multiple, overlapping climate hazards can affect their health, safety, education and access to essential services.
Climate-related hazards such as floods, droughts, heatwaves, storms and changing rainfall patterns can damage water infrastructure and interrupt sanitation services. When water systems fail, children are often among the most affected because they are more vulnerable to disease, dehydration, malnutrition and unsafe living conditions.
The risks are not limited to physical damage. Climate events can contaminate drinking-water sources, overwhelm sewerage systems and reduce the availability of water for handwashing and hygiene. Schools and healthcare facilities may also be forced to close or operate without safe water and sanitation when extreme weather disrupts services.
The impact is particularly severe in communities that already lack safely managed water and sanitation. Children living in poverty, fragile settings, informal settlements and remote areas may have fewer alternatives when public systems fail. Families may be forced to rely on unsafe sources or travel longer distances to collect water.
Climate-resilient WASH systems therefore need to be designed for both everyday reliability and emergency conditions. This includes protecting water sources, strengthening drainage and sanitation networks, improving early-warning systems, developing backup supplies and ensuring that schools and health centres can continue operating during climate shocks.
UNICEF and global WASH partners have previously supported a framework built around understanding climate risks, identifying and assessing adaptation options, delivering solutions and monitoring progress. The approach stresses that resilience should be incorporated into water and sanitation planning rather than treated as a separate emergency response.
The report also underlines the importance of financing and governance. Infrastructure investment must be supported by strong institutions, regular maintenance, reliable data and local participation. Without these elements, even newly built systems may fail when exposed to floods, droughts or extreme heat.
Children should also be included in climate-resilience planning. Their needs must be considered in the design of schools, sanitation facilities, evacuation systems and community water services. Safe, accessible and climate-resilient WASH infrastructure can protect children while supporting wider public health and community resilience.
The warning from UNICEF comes as global water agencies continue to report that climate change is intensifying water insecurity and inequality. UN-Water’s 2026 World Water Development Report also links climate stress, disasters and water insecurity to unequal access and calls for stronger rights, participation and opportunities in water management.
The central message is clear: protecting children from climate change requires protecting the systems that provide safe water, sanitation and hygiene. Building resilient WASH services is not only an infrastructure priority but also a public-health, education and child-rights obligation.