Severe weather events disrupted education for children around the world, including 33 million in Bangladesh in 2024, according to an analysis released by UNICEF today. The report, "Learning Interrupted: Global Snapshot of Climate-Related School Disruptions in 2024," is the first of its kind, and reveals that heatwaves, cyclones, floods, and other extreme weather events led to multiple rounds of school closures around the world. Globally, at least 247 million students in 77 countries had their schooling disrupted by heatwaves, tropical storms, floods and droughts in 2024. South Asia was the most affected region. In Bangladesh, nationwide heatwaves in April and May 2024 left children at risk of dehydration and heatstroke, forcing schools to close across the whole country for up to two weeks, and several districts went on to suffer subsequent school disruption due to cyclone Remal, followed by intense flooding in June. UNICEF appeals for US$9.9 bln funding to support children hit by conflict, crisis   Up to 18.4 million people were impacted by the floods countrywide, including 7 million children. Sylhet district was the worst hit, with severe flooding causing widespread infrastructure damage and leaving more than 600,000 learners without access to education. According to estimates from UNICEF in Bangladesh, children in Sylhet lost up to 8 weeks of school days cumulatively and areas in Khulna, Chattogram and Rangpur districts each suffered 6 weeks of climate-induced school closures over 12 months. “The increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, exacerbated by the climate crisis, is having a knock-on effect on children’s education in Bangladesh and depriving children of their right to learn”, said Rana Flowers, UNICEF Representative to Bangladesh. “Extreme temperatures and other climate hazards don’t only damage schools, they can affect students’ concentration, memory and mental and physical health. Prolonged school closures increase the chance of children – especially adolescent girls – dropping out of school and being married off by families to cope with economic stress”. According to the UNICEF Children’s Climate Risk Index, children in Bangladesh are already among the most exposed and vulnerable in the world to climate and environmental hazards. These disasters often put further strains on the ‘learning poverty’ in the country, where one in two children cannot read at their grade level and two-thirds are unable to do basic counting after completing primary education. In addition, the country loses some of the brightest from their classrooms, as girls and Bangladesh pay the price of ranking among the top 10 countries in the world with the highest percentage of child marriage. The report notes that schools and education systems are largely ill-equipped to protect students from these impacts, and climate-centred finance investments in education remain strikingly low. UNICEF is calling on international climate financing institutions and donors, the private sector and the interim Government of Bangladesh to prioritize the needs of children in policies and plans, including by: Accelerating financing to improve climate resilience in the education sector, including investing in proven and promising solutions to build climate-smart learning facilities that are safe and inclusive for all children. Number of children recruited by gangs in Haiti soars by 70%: UNICEF Ensuring national climate plans – including Nationally Determined Contribution 3.0 and the National Adaptation Plan – strengthen child-critical social services, such as education, to be more climate- smart and disaster- resilient, and contain adequate emission reduction pledges to prevent the worst impacts of climate change. Ensuring children and young people are part of the climate decision-making process at all levels. “Children in Bangladesh are at the forefront of two interconnected crises - climate change and deepening learning poverty, threatening both their survival and future. As children continue to speak up and call for urgent action on the devastating impacts of the climate crisis, decision-makers must heed their calls and place their needs at the centre of climate policies and financing plans,” said Flowers.

Evacuation orders were lifted Thursday for tens of thousands as firefighters with air support slowed the spread of a huge wildfire churning through rugged mountains north of Los Angeles, but new blazes erupted in San Diego County, briefly triggering more evacuations. Southern California is under a red flag warning for critical fire risk through Friday. The area has been facing constant challenges in controlling the fires, as dangerous winds gained strength again Thursday. The Hughes Fire broke out late Wednesday morning and in less than a day charred nearly 16 square miles (41 square kilometers) of trees and brush near Castaic Lake, a popular recreation area about 40 miles (64 kilometers) from the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires that are burning for a third week. Crews made significant progress by late afternoon on the Hughes Fire, with more than one-third of it contained. Two new blazes were reported Thursday in the San Diego area. Evacuations were ordered but were later lifted after a brush fire erupted in the late afternoon in the wealthy enclave of La Jolla near the University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine. Further south, near the U.S.-Mexico border, another blaze was quickly spreading through the Otay Mountain Wilderness, home to the endangered Quino checkerspot butterfly and other unique species. In Ventura County, a new fire briefly prompted the evacuation of California State University Channel Islands in Camarillo. Water-dropping helicopters made quick progress against the Laguna Fire that erupted in hills above the campus of about 7,000 students. The evacuation order was later downgraded to a warning. Read: Over 50,000 under evacuation orders or warnings as wildfire imperils homes north of Los Angeles Rain is forecast for the weekend, potentially ending Southern California's monthslong dry spell. Winds are also not as strong as they were when the Palisades and Eaton fires broke out, allowing for firefighting aircraft to dump tens of thousands of gallons of fire retardant. That helped the fight against the Hughes Fire in the Castaic area north of Los Angeles, allowing helicopters to drop water, which kept it from growing, fire spokesperson Jeremy Ruiz said. “We had helicopters dropping water until around 3 a.m. That kept it in check,” he said. Nearly 54,000 residents in the Castaic area were still under evacuation warnings Thursday, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said. There were no reports of homes or other structures burned. Kayla Amara drove to Castaic’s Stonegate neighborhood Wednesday to collect items from the home of a friend who had rushed to pick up her daughter at preschool. As Amara was packing the car, she learned the fire had exploded in size and decided to hose down the property. Amara, a nurse who lives in nearby Valencia, said she’s been on edge for weeks as major blazes devastated Southern California. “It’s been stressful with those other fires, but now that this one is close to home it’s just super stressful,” she said. The Palisades Fire was more than three-quarters contained, and the Eaton Fire was 95% under control Thursday. The two fires have killed at least 28 people and destroyed more than 14,000 structures since they broke out Jan. 7. Read more: As flames linger, talk turns to rebuilding Los Angeles neighborhoods leveled by wildfires Rain was expected to start Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. Officials welcomed the wet weather, but crews also were shoring up hillsides and installing barriers to prevent debris flows as residents returned to the charred Pacific Palisades and Altadena areas. The California fires have overall caused at least $28 billion in insured damage and probably a little more in uninsured damage, according to Karen Clark and Company, a disaster modeling firm known for accurate post-catastrophe damage assessments. On the heels of that assessment, California Republicans are pushing back against suggestions by President Donald Trump, House Speaker Mike Johnson and others that federal disaster aid for victims of wildfires should come with strings attached. The state Legislature approved a more than $2.5 billion fire relief package Thursday, in part to help the Los Angeles area recover from the fires. Trump plans to travel to the state to see the damage firsthand Friday, but it isn’t clear whether he and Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom will meet during the visit.

Dhaka, the overcrowded capital city of Bangladesh, has topped the list of cities with the worst air quality with an AQI score of 230 at 9am this morning (January 24, 2025). Today’s air was classified as ‘very unhealthy', referring to a severe health threat, according to the AQI index. When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 50 and 100, air quality is considered ‘moderate’, usually sensitive individuals should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion, between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 and 200 is ‘unhealthy’, between 201 and 300 is said to be 'very unhealthy', while a reading of 301+ is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents. Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City, India’s Delhi and Cambodia’s Phnom Penh cities respectively occupied the second, third and fourth spots on the list, with AQI scores of 220, 198 and 187 respectively. The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them. The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone. Read: Dhaka’s air quality ranks world's 2nd worst on Wednesday Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon. As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.

Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has said that people's survival ultimately depends on their access to clean air, water, and soil—not on material possessions such as polished houses or luxurious cars.Despite the country's heavily polluted air quality and rivers, it is never too late to begin the restoration process., she stressed. Rizwana, US Charge d’Affaires discuss critical environmental challenges “Change starts with each of us. Instead of asking why banned polythene bags are still on the market, ask yourself why you continue to use them. Single-use plastics take hundreds of years to decompose and ultimately re-enter our food chain as harmful microplastics,” she said on Thursday.The Environment Adviser was delivering the keynote address at the inaugural ceremony of the first Bangladesh qualifier for the Stetson International Environmental Moot Court Competition (Stetson IEMCC) 2024-2025 on Thursday evening.The event, hosted by the Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), saw enthusiastic participation from students representing 34 universities across the country.Rizwana urged the participants to reconsider everyday habits, such as unnecessary honking, which contributes to noise pollution. “Even in a bustling city like Dhaka, it is possible to drive without honking if we are mindful.”Reflecting on the pressing environmental challenges of today, she called upon the younger generation not to repeat the mistakes of their predecessors. “Embrace sustainable practices, respect nature, and redesign development models to prioritise environmental balance.”Expressing her satisfaction with the event’s inclusivity, Rizwana said, “I am pleased to see gender balance among participants, with an equal number of men and women. I hope this moot court competition inspires you to explore more opportunities like this and prepare for a world that demands meaningful action to tackle environmental issues.”She also highlighted the importance of environmental advocacy, stating, “Environmental advocates can practice law, engage with communities, and serve people in impactful ways. Events like this not only enhance your legal acumen but also instil a sense of responsibility towards the planet.”The Stetson International Environmental Moot Court Competition, renowned for promoting environmental law education globally, aims to equip aspiring lawyers with the tools to address critical environmental issues through advocacy and legal reasoning. Adviser Rizwana urges unified global action to tackle climate changeThe inaugural ceremony concluded with a call to action for young minds to champion sustainability and contribute to a greener, more resilient future.

Sever cold disrupted daily life in Kurigram in the 2nd week of Bangla month ‘Magh’.   Subal Chandra Sarkar, officer-in-charge of Kurigram Agriculture Weather Observatory, said they recorded temperature at 12.6 degree Celsius at 9am on Thursday. He also said the temperature may drop further in the next two to three days. Dry weather with partly cloudy skies across Bangladesh: BMD The low-income people, especially those living at chars on the banks of rivers, children and senior citizens are the worst sufferers of the cold. People were seen to keep them warm by igniting straws. The sunlight wasn’t seen till 10am in the district while vehicles were operating with headlights on to ward off any unwanted incident.     Moreover, the fog has been spawning drizzle since early morning. Dhaka's air ‘very unhealthy’ on Monday morning Mukul Mia, a three-wheeler van driver in Dhara area of Kurigram Sadar, said the sun didn’t rise even after 1pm and movement of people was very thin. Locals alleged that they weren’t getting sufficient warm clothes from the government to keep them protected from the cold. District’s Relief and Rehabilitation Official Md Abdul Matin said they have so far distributed 34, 722 pieces of blankets in nine upazilas of the district. The distribution was underway considering the demand, he said.

More than 50,000 people were under evacuation orders or warnings Wednesday as a huge and fast-moving wildfire swept through rugged mountains north of Los Angeles, but fire officials said a rapid ground and air assault was giving them the upper hand. The Hughes Fire broke out in the late morning and within six hours charred about 15 square miles (39 square kilometers) of trees and brush near Lake Castaic, a popular recreation area about 40 miles (64 kilometers) from the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires that are burning for a third week. Though the region was under a red flag warning, winds were not as fast as they had been when those fires broke out, allowing for firefighting aircraft to dump tens of thousands of gallons of fire retardant. “The situation that we’re in today is very different from the situation we were in 16 days ago,” Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said Wednesday evening. There were no reported homes or other structures burned. “This fire had a robust response today, and as you can see behind us, the responders are doing great work to try to contain this fire," Joe Tyler, director of Cal Fire, said. “Certainly, we are not out of the woods yet.” More than 31,000 people have been ordered to evacuate, and another 23,000 are under evacuation warnings, LA County Sheriff Robert Luna said. Parts of Interstate 5 that had been closed reopened Wednesday evening. A 30-mile (48-kilometer) stretch of the major north-south artery had been closed for emergency vehicles, to move equipment and to prevent accidents due to smoke billowing across the freeway. Crews on the ground and in water-dropping aircraft tried to prevent the wind-driven fire from moving across the interstate and toward Castaic. Marrone said that because winds were not as strong as they were two weeks ago, aircraft crews were able to drop fire retardant on the south side of the fire, where the flames were moving, he said. More than 4,000 firefighters were assigned to the fire, he said. Winds in the area were gusting at 42 mph (67 kph) in the afternoon but were expected to increase to 60 mph (96 kph) by later in the evening and Thursday, the National Weather Service said on the social platform X. Kayla Amara drove to Castaic's Stonegate neighborhood to collect items from the home of a friend who had rushed to pick up her daughter at preschool. As Amara was packing the car, she learned the fire had exploded in size and decided to hose down the property. “Other people are hosing down their houses, too. I hope there's a house here to return to,” Amara said as police cars raced through the streets and flames engulfed trees on a hillside in the distance. Amara, a nurse who lives in nearby Valencia, said she's been on edge for weeks as major blazes devastated Southern California. “It’s been stressful with those other fires, but now that this one is close to home it's just super stressful,” she said. To the south, Los Angeles officials began to prepare for potential rain even as some residents were allowed to return to the charred Pacific Palisades and Altadena areas. Gusty weather was expected to last through Thursday and precipitation was possible starting Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. Read: As flames linger, talk turns to rebuilding Los Angeles neighborhoods leveled by wildfires “Rains are in the forecast and the threat of mud and debris flow in our fire-impacted communities is real," Supervisor Kathryn Barger said during a Wednesday morning news conference. Fire crews were filling sandbags for communities while county workers installed barriers and cleared drainage pipes and basins. Red flag warnings for critical fire risk were extended through 10 a.m. Friday in LA and Ventura counties. Officials remained concerned that the Palisades and Eaton fires could break their containment lines as firefighters continue watching for hot spots. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass warned that winds could carry ash and advised Angelenos to visit the city's website to learn how to protect themselves from toxic air during the latest Santa Ana wind event. LA County public health director Barbara Ferrer cautioned that the ash could contain heavy metals, arsenic and other harmful materials. “Even a brief exposure can potentially cause skin irritation and lead to more serious problems,” Ferrer said Wednesday, asking people to wear protective gear while cleaning up. The low humidity, bone-dry vegetation and strong winds came as firefighters continued battling the Palisades and Eaton fires, which have killed at least 28 people and destroyed more than 14,000 structures since they broke out Jan. 7. Containment of the Palisades Fire reached 68%, and the Eaton Fire was at 91%. Read more: Relief, 21st-century style: As wildfires burn, GoFundMe becomes a repository of harrowing stories Luna said Wednesday that his department was still investigating 22 active missing person reports in both fire zones. All of those reported missing are adults, he said. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is investigating the causes of the fires but has not released any findings. Several lawsuits have been filed by people who lost their homes in the Eaton Fire, alleging Southern California Edison's equipment sparked the blaze. On Tuesday, a judge overseeing one of the lawsuits ordered the utility to produce data from circuits in the area where the fire started.

Indonesian rescuers retrieved four more bodies after they resumed their search Wednesday for people missing after floods and landslides on Indonesia’s main island of Java, bringing the death toll to 21. Waters from flooded rivers tore through nine villages in Pekalongan regency of Central Java province and landslides tumbled onto mountainside hamlets after the torrential rains Monday. Videos and photos released by National Search and Rescue Agency showed workers digging desperately in villages where roads and green-terraced rice fields were transformed into murky brown mud and villages were covered by thick mud, rocks and uprooted trees. National Disaster Management Agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari said flooding triggered a landslide that buried two houses and a cafe in the Petungkriyono resort area. The disasters all together destroyed 25 houses, a dam and three main bridges connecting villages in Pekalongan. At least 13 people injured and nearly 300 people were forced to flee to temporary government shelters. The search and rescue operation that was hampered by bad weather, mudslides and rugged terrain was halted Tuesday afternoon due to heavy rain and thick fog that made devastated areas along the rivers dangerous to rescuers. On Wednesday, they searched in rivers and the rubble of villages for bodies and, whenever possible, survivors in worst-hit Kasimpar village, said Budiono, who heads a local rescue office. Scores of rescue personnel recovered three mud-caked bodies, including a 5-month old baby, as they searched a Petungkriyono area where tons of mud and rocks buried two houses and a café. Another body was pulled out from under a broken bridge near a river in Kasimpar village. Rescuers are still searching for five people reported missing. Landslides and floods were also reported in many other provinces, Muhari said. On Monday, a landslide hit five houses in Denpasar on the tourist island of Bali, killing four people and leaving one missing. Read: Search resumes after deadly flooding and landslides in Indonesia Heavy seasonal rain from about October to March frequently causes flooding and landslides in Indonesia, an archipelago of 17,000 islands where millions of people live in mountainous areas or near fertile floodplains. Landslides of earth, rock and debris can happen suddenly or slowly and can be caused by rain, erosion, or changes to the slope’s material. Rain adds weight to the slope, making it more unstable. The slope’s steepness or erosion at the base can make landslides more likely. They can be caused by the movement of nearby bodies of water or vibrations from earthquakes, mining or traffic. The types and sizes of the rocks and soils can determine how much water land can absorb before weakening and collapsing. Studies have found that landslides could become more frequent as climate change increases rainfall.

Dhaka, the overcrowded capital city of Bangladesh, has again ranked the fourth on the list of cities with the worst air quality with an AQI score of 223 at 8:45am this morning (January 23, 2025). Today’s air was classified as ‘very unhealthy', referring to a severe health threat, according to the AQI index. When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 50 and 100, air quality is considered ‘moderate’, usually sensitive individuals should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion, between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 and 200 is ‘unhealthy’, between 201 and 300 is said to be 'very unhealthy', while a reading of 301+ is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents. China’s Wuhan, Chengdu and Chongqing cities respectively occupied the first, second and third spots on the list, with AQI scores of 258, 238 and 231 respectively. Read: Dhaka’s air quality ranks world's 2nd worst on Wednesday The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them. The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone. Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon. Read more:Dhaka’s air quality ranks world's 3rd worst on Tuesday As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.

Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has called for unified global action to confront the challenges of climate change. She spoke about the importance of minimising environmental harm while striving to meet mitigation targets during a Capacity Building Workshop on Paris Agreement Article 6 Implementation, held at the Department of Environment Agargaon, on Wednesday. Environment Secretary Dr Farhina Ahmed addressed the event as a special guest, while the Department of Environment Director General presided over the workshop. Rizwana, US Charge d’Affaires discuss critical environmental challenges “Market-driven solutions have a role, but my humble request is to prepare ourselves for the challenges of climate change. Together, we must work to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Failure to do so will endanger the existence of vulnerable countries like ours. Let the urgency of this crisis inspire us to achieve our future aspirations,” Adviser Rizwana said. “Mitigating through trading comes with a price, but it also offers opportunities to improve governance standards and operational efficiency. For instance, Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects in the energy sector can address gas emissions and improve efficiency across industries,” she added. Hilly areas neglected in climate change interventions: Rizwana  “With modest investment, we can scale up initiatives that save lives by targeting air quality improvements. The government is focusing on investments that prioritise saving lives over creating extravagant infrastructure,” she also said. “The demand for climate justice must centre on mitigation. While countries like Bangladesh have had voluntary obligations historically, the Paris Agreement now extends this framework globally. Mechanisms like Article 6 and Article 6.4 pose challenges in ensuring fair responsibility sharing, but they also offer opportunities for carbon trading and collaboration,” Rizwana said.

Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has discussed advancing mutual cooperation in addressing critical environmental challenges with the US Embassy Chargé d'affaires, Tracey Ann Jacobson. The discussion was held after Jacobson paid a courtesy call on Rizwana at the Department of Environment in Dhaka, on Wednesday, according to a press release. Hilly areas neglected in climate change interventions: Rizwana The meeting focused on advancing mutual cooperation in addressing critical environmental challenges. Discussions highlighted the recent reform agenda of the Bangladesh government and emphasized collaborative efforts in promoting renewable energy, and conserving biodiversity. Rizwana expressed Bangladesh’s commitment to implementing innovative and sustainable policies for environmental protection. She stressed the need for enhanced international partnerships to promote eco-friendly technologies. Jacobson reaffirmed the United States' support for Bangladesh’s initiatives in renewable energy development and biodiversity conservation. She praised the government's efforts to address environmental issues while advancing the country’s development agenda. Polythene ban must be implemented for better future: Adviser Rizwana Both sides agreed to continue dialogue and explore further avenues for collaboration to achieve shared goals in environmental sustainability and resilience. Environment Ministry Secretary and officials from the US Embassy were present at the time, among others.