the health of children and staff, placing additional responsibilities and financial burdens on early childhood education programs.
Economic Challenges
Natural disasters can displace or shut down facilities, causing prolonged operational disruptions in service and instability for children and families who rely on these programs( Pal et al. 2023). The prevalent inequality in development and resource availability in communities with low incomes make child care facilities particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change( US EPA 2023). For instance, under worsening effects of climate change, facilities without adequate or well-maintained HVAC systems— something which may normally be a more minor inconvenience— are now exposed to rising temperatures, pollution, and other adverse weather conditions that degrade air quality. Children’ s physical and mental health are uniquely vulnerable to these conditions, which can exacerbate respiratory issues such as asthma and can lead to other heat-related illnesses. These, in turn, make educators’ jobs more high stakes and more complex( Ahdoot et al. 2024).
Health Implications
The health implications of climate change on early childhood facilities extend beyond respiratory issues and heat-related illnesses( NIEHS, n. d.-a). Mold and mildew in facilities damaged by floods can cause additional health problems( US EPA 2024). Further, climate-related disasters and the instability they create can cause chronic stress and trauma that deeply affect the health of children, families, and educators and can, in turn, cause additional challenges, including sleep disorders, memory loss, and weakened immune systems for children and adults( Mitchell et al. 2024). These health impacts require access to comprehensive health care plans and responsive measures to protect
The effects of climate change drive higher operational costs due to increased energy use, ongoing maintenance, and necessary repairs and improvements to enhance facility resilience and support everyone’ s health and well-being( Mullan et al. 2018a). These financial strains are further compounded by rising and increasingly unavailable insurance premiums and potential funding cuts, which result from the broader economic impacts of climate change( NIEHS, n. d.-b). As programs shift their limited resources to respond to these urgent operational needs, they have even fewer resources available to invest in their core missions of care and education. These include lower salaries for educators; fewer books, toys, and educational materials for children; fewer opportunities for family support; and less professional development and support for staff. These economic burdens and consequences are particularly acute in communities with low incomes, where far too many early childhood facilities and the families they serve already struggle with limited budgets and resources( Nelson 2023).
As noted earlier, NAEYC’ s January 2025 early childhood education workforce survey asked respondents to report on the following:“ In the last year, has your program been impacted by any of the following weather-related challenges( select all that apply)?” Nearly 10,000 responses came in from across the US, and 45.1 percent of respondents selected at least one from the following list:
› Extreme heat › Extreme cold › Extreme wind › Severe storms › Wildfires › Flooding › Air quality
8 Young Children
Winter 2025