Climate change set to drive down school results and job prospects: Zurich-Mandala Climate Risk Index
Zurich Australia & Mandala
Extreme heat is set to reduce the academic attainment of Australian students by up to seven per cent, which could translate to $73,000 in lost earnings during their lifetime, according to a landmark new report.
For the first time, the Zurich-Mandala Climate Risk Index has been used to analyse the risk of climate change to 9,829 primary and secondary schools across Australia.
Extreme heat is projected to reduce writing, spelling, grammar & punctuation, and numeracy by over 7% in some parts of the country by 2060, with students in the Northern Territory and Queensland disproportionately impacted.
Two-thirds of schools in Australia currently face high climate risk. This is set to increase to 84% of schools by 2060 under an intermediate climate scenario with 2 degrees Celsius of warming.
Australian students are projected to experience 34 annual heatwave days by 2060.
https://newshub.medianet.com.au/2025/02/climate-change-set-to-drive-down-school-results-and-job-prospects-zurich-mandala-climate-risk-index/85797/