New research, titled The Impact of Climate Change on Australia’s Schools, has revealed that extreme heat can affect students’ academic performance.
Zurich Insurance and Mandala Partners collaborated to create the Zurich-Mandala Climate Risk Index, a tool that evaluates the impact of climate change on different sectors throughout Australia. The tool employs sophisticated climate and economic models to identify the locations and industries most at risk from climate change.
Evaluating 9,829 primary and secondary schools, the tool has revealed that two-thirds of Australian schools are currently exposed to high climate risks.
If no action is taken, this proportion is projected to increase to 84% by 2060 under a moderate warming scenario of a 2°C rise in global temperatures. Exposure to extreme heat is a serious concern, with students expected to face 34 heatwave days annually by 2060.
The study has also shown that extreme heat is expected to decrease performance in writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation, and numeracy by more than 7% in certain regions of the country, with students in the Northern Territory and Queensland being disproportionately affected.
Furthermore, 45% of schools are situated in regional or remote areas, and nearly 35% of students attend schools classified as having low ‘socio-educational advantage’, falling within the lowest five deciles compared to other schools across Australia.
The gaps between Australian schools have widened even more in recent years due to disruptions like the global pandemic and climate change-related weather events.
Weather events, such as heatwaves, bushfires, and floods, can lead to prolonged school closures, destruction of infrastructure, displacement of children and their families, diminished cognitive abilities and functioning in students, negative effects on the mental health of both students and teachers, and ultimately, lower future employment prospects and earning potential.
“This report might make for sobering reading, but its purpose is not to alarm – it’s to inform and inspire action,” Amit Singh, Mandala managing partner said.
“By understanding these risks in detail, we can better protect our schools, our teachers, and most importantly, our children’s future. After all, we cannot protect what we do not measure.””
View the full report here.