Children born today are on track to experience climate extremes at levels never seen before and could face nearly seven times more heatwaves than their grandparents.
LONDON/GENEVA, 23 JUNE 2026 - Extreme temperatures across Europe have disrupted education and have left at least two children dead [1], providing a sharp reminder that real policy changes must happen to address the climate crisis, Save the Children said.
The UK, Germany, France and other European countries are experiencing extreme heat with temperatures in some European cities expected to exceed 40 degrees Celscius (104 degrees Farenheit) this week.
The extreme temperatures have forced France to shut more than 800 schools so far this week with hundreds of others operating staggered hours because of the extreme heat.
A report by the World Meteorological Organization this year found Europe is warming at more than double the global rate. [2]
Matilde Angeltveit, Senior Advisor and Global Climate Advocacy Lead, Save the Children, said:
“Heat is hurting children across Europe. It affects their health and it is disrupting their education and the impact can sometimes be long term. This should be a joyous time as many children across Europe wrap up the school year but for many it is not.
Across the world, we are living the impacts of the climate crisis now and it is already disrupting children’s lives even though they have contributed the least to global emissions. Children born today are on track to experience climate extremes at levels never seen before and could face nearly seven times more heatwaves than their grandparents.
Acknowledgement alone is not enough. We need action now and this includes real policy changes at the national, regional level and global level.”
Save the Children is calling for the recognition of children’s unique vulnerabilities to climate change at the climate summit COP31 this year, at least a tripling of global climate finance to developing countries, including finance to cut emissions, and the urgent phase out of fossil fuels.
References:
[2] https://wmo.int/resources/publication-series/state-of-climate-europe/european-state-of-climate-2025
Born Into the Climate Crisis 2 (Save the Children): https://resourcecentre.savethechildren.net/document/born-into-the-climate-crisis-2-an-unprecedented-life-protecting-childrens-rights
READ MORE ON HOW EXTREME HEAT IMPACTS CHILDREN'S LIVES.
For media queries
Amy Sawitta Lefevre, Global Media Manager: Asia
Amy.Lefevre@savethechildren.org
