Why we exist
Climate change is reshaping education in Pakistan, and education must become part of the climate solution.
Pakistan ranks 14th of 163 countries on UNICEF's Children's Climate Risk Index
Children in Pakistan are classed as being at "extremely high risk" from the impacts of climate change. [2]
The beginning
Climate Class Connection was born from a deeply personal experience.
When climate-induced flooding disrupted communities, our founder Nouman Alam saw how his own sister's education was affected. Schools closed, learning stopped, and uncertainty replaced opportunity.
That moment revealed something deeper: climate disasters are not only destroying infrastructure, they are disrupting education systems and futures across Pakistan.
Thousands of children face similar disruptions every year, yet education systems were not prepared for climate realities. That gap inspired the creation of Climate Class Connection, to connect climate education with real-world resilience.
Pakistan's education system is increasingly vulnerable to climate disasters, and children are paying the price.
The growing climate–education crisis
Every figure below comes from UNICEF, the World Bank or Pakistan's own education statistics. Sources are listed at the end of this page.
- 26,600+schools damaged or destroyed by the 2022 floods [1]
- 7,060more schools turned into relief camps and shelters in 2022 [1]
- 3.5Mchildren whose education was disrupted by the 2022 floods [1]
- 26.2Mchildren out of school in Pakistan, 39% of the school-age population [3]
- 78%of ten-year-olds cannot read and understand a simple text [4]
Climate disasters keep returning
Each major flood has shut schools, displaced families and pushed children out of learning.
- 2010
Super floods
- 2022
Monsoon floods
- 2025
Monsoon and flash floods
Girls are disproportionately affected
When disasters damage schools, safety concerns rise and girls are often the first to drop out. Climate change is quietly widening gender inequality in education.
That is why girls are at the centre of our work
- More than 60% of the 2,000+ students in our Climate Champions initiative were girls.
- Climate & Health Guardians works in four girls' schools, training Climate Health Ambassadors.
- Girls and mothers lead Climate Baithaks and Kitchen Climate Labs in their communities.
Our response
We exist to build climate-resilient education systems from classrooms outward, empowering teachers, students, schools and communities with the knowledge and skills to adapt and to lead climate solutions.
Sources
- UNICEF, reported by Context (Thomson Reuters Foundation), November 2022 (opens in a new tab)
- UNICEF Pakistan press release, 1 September 2022 (opens in a new tab)
- Pakistan Institute of Education, Pakistan Education Statistics 2021–22, reported by The News (opens in a new tab)
- World Bank, Reforms for a Brighter Future, Policy Note 2, December 2023 (opens in a new tab)
- UNICEF one-year report on the 2010 floods, reported by Business Recorder (opens in a new tab)
- UNESCO, reported by The Express Tribune, 23 September 2010 (opens in a new tab)
- Save the Children, 28 August 2025 (opens in a new tab)
- UNICEF statement on flash floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 19 August 2025 (opens in a new tab)
Join us in building climate-resilient futures for children
Whether you are a school, teacher, organisation, donor or community leader, there is a place for you in this work.